Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone
A chief officer in Florida has been terminated following allegations that he accepted $100 from a grateful citizen, and did not report it until confronted.
Deputy Chief Guy Wine of the Cocoa Beach Fire Department was fired yesterday. He was a 25 year fire service veteran, although he had only been with Cocoa Beach for the past 7 years.
Chief Wine was given the money on September 1, 2012 by a resident to be used for a “thank you” dinner for a fire crew following an elevator emergency. When the resident and two fire captains began inquiring about the money, Fire Chief Ryan Duckworth confronted Chief Wine.
Chief Wine was placed on administrative leave on September 20, 2012 as the matter was investigated. Following a “show cause” meeting September 25, he was terminated. In the termination letter Cocoa Beach city manager Charles Billias wrote: “Your actions have upset the resident, and shaken the trust and confidence of fire department staff.”
