12 Cleveland Firefighters Face YCMTSU Allegations

Posted by: Curt Varone November 25, 2013 0

Twelve Cleveland firefighters are facing discipline for their role in allowing a photo of former Cleveland Fire Chief Daryl McGinnis to be placed in a urinal and urinated on last August.

The incident allegedly occurred on August 16, 2013, two days after Chief McGinnis announced his retirement. The photo of the Chief was allegedly taken from the training academy to the Kamm’s Corner area of Cleveland where it was placed in urinals at two bars where recent recruits were celebrating their graduation from the fire academy.

The incident became known when a captain, Roy Ziganti Jr., took a cellphone photo of Chief McGinnis' photo in the urinal and forwarded it to the female companion of a recruit with instructions for her to forward it to Chief McGinnis and a lieutenant. That YCMTSU moment prompted the investigation that led to the twelve members being charged.

The accused include:

  • Captain Roy P. Ziganti, Jr.
  • Captain Patrick T. Corrigan
  • Captain John F. Whalen
  • Captain Louis C. Hahn, Jr.
  • Lieutenant William A. Lipke
  • Lieutenant Bruce R. Ryan
  • Mark A. Edwards
  • Louis J. Ruggiero
  • Robert K. Disanto
  • Brian J. Webb
  • Daniel N. Sunyak
  • James M. Papcke

Chief McGinnis himself is a veteran of YCMTSU… Earlier this year he threatened to stab a firefighter in the neck and shortly thereafter was outed for having failed to meet his refresher training requirements earlier. He resigned after just eight months as chief.

Here is a copy of the disciplinary notices outlining the allegations. Cleveland FFs Charges

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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