Meanwhile in Canada: Firefighters Caught Having Sex On Duty In Fire Chief’s Office Reinstated

Posted by: Curt Varone March 19, 2019 0

A fire captain and a dispatcher who were terminated for having sex in the fire chief’s office while on duty have been ordered reinstated by a British Columbia Arbitration Panel. Fire Captain Brent Bond and dispatcher Cara-Leigh Manahan were terminated from the Vernon Fire Department last year.

The couple was caught having sex in the fire chief’s office on a security cam the fire chief installed. Through their union, they grieved their terminations

The majority of the arbitration panel concluded that while Bond and Manahan deserved “harsh discipline,” termination was an “excessive disciplinary response.” Both were ordered rehired without backpay.

Bond was demoted to firefighter. The outcome is a bit trickier for Manahan as the city contracted out dispatching services. She will be entitled to what ever severance or benefit she would have been entitled to when her job was eliminated.

The city is reported to be contemplating its legal options.

More on the story.

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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