Fired Sacramento Fire Chief Vows Litigation

Fire Chief Gary Loesch who was unceremoniously fired last week by the City of Sacramento, is speaking publicly about his treatment by city officials. The official reason given by city officials for his termination was incompatibility with his management style.

However, Chief Loesch disputes that and has already announced plans to file suit. He had been fire chief in Sacramento since 2018 following a thirty-plus year career with the Philadelphia Fire Department.

June 1, 2022 Update: Local news media outlets are reporting that Chief Loesch has filed a $10 Million lawsuit. However, we cannot confirm that and it is likley his attorneys filed a civil tort claim with the city, a required prerequisite to the filing of a suit. Here is more:

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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