Sacramento Settles With Former Fire Chief for $300k

The City of Sacramento has agreed to settle a wrongful termination suit brought by former Fire Chief Gary Loesch, for $300,000. Chief Loesch was hired by the city in 2018 after a long career with the Philadelphia Fire Department.

The lawsuit alleged that City Manager Howard Chan not only wrongfully terminated him on May 26, 2022, but intentionally exposed him to COVID in retaliation for having challenged earlier discipline.  The original demand was $10,000,000 in damages.

According to news reports, Chan’s stated reasons for dismissing Chief Loesch was “incompatibility of management style” and “failure to foster a homogeneous and inclusive work environment and culture.” However, Chief Loesch alleges Chan tried to dock his pay over a workplace retaliation complaint, and for wearing what was deemed an inappropriate Halloween costume. His dismissal came after Chief Loesch informed Chan that he could not dock his pay.

The Sacramento Bee quoted Chief Loesch as saying:

• It feels good to put that chapter in my life behind me.
• It’s a shame that one person in government destroyed my career and reputation because I had challenged them on wrongdoing.

More on the settlement.