Professional Standards

Mass Firefighter Ordered Reinstated by Civil Service Commission

A Bourne firefighter who was terminated in 2018 over comments he made on a medical run, will be reinstated following a Massachusetts Civil Service Commission ruling. Thomas Swartz was fired on August 22, 2018 following an investigation into comments he made to an 18-year-old patient and the patient’s mother.

Court Concludes County Waived Attorney Client Privilege to Fire Department Disciplinary Investigation

An inadvertent disclosure of an internal disciplinary investigative report by Bedford County, Virginia constituted a waiver of any attorney-client privilege that otherwise would have applied, according to a ruling last week. The case involves a volunteer EMT who was sexually assaulted and abused by a career lieutenant while participating in ride-along training with the Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue when she was a minor.

Reporters Raise Questions About Firefighter Accused of Assaulting Patient

A Washington state firefighter/EMT is facing assault charges stemming from an incident in April 2017 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. Sean Clayton is charged with a single misdemeanor count of assault in the fourth degree. Clayton is with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue.

Chicago Fire Prevails in Discrimination Suit

The Chicago Fire Department has prevailed in a lawsuit filed by a Hispanic firefighter who claimed he was the victim of a hostile workplace. Last Friday, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted a summary judgment to the city in a suit brought by Firefighter Ricardo Gomez

Firefighter Sues LAFD Over Handling of False Allegations

A Los Angeles firefighter who claims he was falsely accused of sexually assaulting a patient, has filed suit accusing the department of defamation and discrimination. Louis Cerda, a 25 year veteran of Mexican-American heritage, filed suit last week claiming that the department’s handling of a female patient’s accusations damaged his reputation and subjected him to adverse employment action.

Burning Question About Bully Bosses and Insubordination

Today’s burning question: My immediate supervisor recently called me into a conference room and berated me, called me a sandbagger and used numerous expletives (predominantly dropping the "F bomb"). It got so bad, the administrative assistant down the hall heard the berating and walked in because she was concerned about my welfare. As he was in the middle of cussing me I stood up to leave and was told if I left I would face discipline and that I was ordered to sit down or face insubordination charges.

Colorado City Settles Fire Department Race Discrimination Suit

The City of Aurora, Colorado has agreed to settle a race discrimination suit brought by probationary firefighters who washed out of the department during their first year for $480,000. The suit was filed in 2015 by two lateral hire firefighters who relocated from Kansas and Florida to Colorado to join the Aurora Fire Department.

Mass Civil Service Commission Overturns Lieutenant’s Discipline

The Massachusetts Civil Service Commission has overturned the suspension of a Rockland Fire Department lieutenant, and in the process raised questions about favoritism and racism in the department. Lt. Craig Erickson was initially disciplined over an incident when a mutual aid response as a RIT to a working structure fire was delayed as personnel argued over who was to respond.

Louisiana Firefighter Files For Whistleblower Protection

A St. Tammany Parish firefighter who accused his fire chief of misconduct and was then himself placed under investigation, has filed suit alleging whistleblower retaliation. Fire District 12 firefighter Thomas Williamson accused Fire Chief Stephen Krentel with stealing department air conditioning units and having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

Savannah Fire Chief Cleared Of Hostile Work Environment Allegations

A comprehensive investigation into allegations of a hostile work environment in the Savannah Fire & Emergency Services has been completed, and Fire Chief Charles Middleton has been cleared of any wrongdoing. The investigation was sparked by complaints leveled by four ...

Idaho Chief Resigns After Disagreement Over Discipline

An Idaho fire chief has resigned after a disagreement with the city’s mayor over the appropriate level of discipline for a firefighter accused of misconduct. Mountain Home Fire Chief Alan Bermensolo resigned rather than sign a disciplinary letter to one of his firefighters as requested by Mayor Rich Sykes

DC Chief Acknowledges Mistake on Discipline

Here is a followup on the story from Monday about the DC fire lieutenant who retired and escaped discipline. Lt. Guy Valentine was accused of a delaying his response to the choking death of 18-month-old Martin Cuesta on March 18, 2015. Despite being three blocks from the scene, it took crews nearly 11 minutes to arrive on scene. Lt. Valentine reportedly retired over the holidays as he awaited a trial board on disciplinary charges.

CA Supreme Court Rules Officer’s Personal Notes NOT Subject to Personnel File Disclosure

The Supreme Court of California has handed down an important decision interpreting the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act in regards to a firefighter’s right to know about negative comments entered into his personnel file. The case was brought by an Orange County firefighter who claimed that his captain had been keeping daily notes his performance in violation of a provision in the FPBOR Act.

Should We Accept Anonymous Complaints Against Firefighters?

Today’s burning question: If someone wants to file a complaint against a firefighter, can we allow that person to remain anonymous? In other words, should we accept anonymous complaints? Answer: That is a question that comes up a lot in my Fire Department Administrative Investigations and Enforcing Discipline class.

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