administration-leadership

The long-awaited suit brought by three seriously injured Wilmington, Delaware firefighters along with the families of three firefighters who died in a building fire in 2016 was filed today in US District Court for the District of Delaware. The fire on September 24, 2016 claimed the lives of Lieutenant Christopher Leach, FF Ardythe Hope, and FF Jerry Fickes.

Read More »

Another lawsuit has been filed in the ongoing battle between the firefighters and the town administration in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. IAFF Local 3328 union president William Perry filed suit against the town, Town Council President Sue Cieniki, Town Manager Gail Corrigan, and Finance Director Linda Dykeman alleging violations of the Rhode Island Civil Rights Act and the Rhode Island Fair Employment Practices Act.

Read More »

Prosecutors in the Netherlands are investigating death threats that have been made against the fire chief in Amsterdam. Leen Schaap, a former police chief, was brought in as fire chief to address some serious cultural problems within the Amsterdam Fire Department.

Read More »

An Inspector General’s investigation into training records at the Newport Naval Station Fire Department has revealed widespread fraud and lack of compliance training requirements. The report dated June 9, 2017 has only recently become known.

Read More »

The Massachusetts Civil Service Commission has overturned the suspension of a Rockland Fire Department lieutenant, and in the process raised questions about favoritism and racism in the department. Lt. Craig Erickson was initially disciplined over an incident when a mutual aid response as a RIT to a working structure fire was delayed as personnel argued over who was to respond.

Read More »

A Texas fire chief accused of stealing $8,000 from a union fund, is seeking to have a judge disqualified from ruling on his motion to suppress evidence obtained during a search of his house. Former Brownsville fire chief Carlos Elizondo is seeking to have District Judge Elia Cornejo-Lopez recused.

Read More »

Fairfax County has released its report on the allegations made by Battalion Chief Kathleen Stanley, who resigned her position as Women's Program Officer in January. Chief Stanley accused the department of tolerating and defending sexual harassment, retaliation and a hostile work environment.

Read More »

Orlando Fire Chief Rod Williams has been cleared of allegations that he sexually harassed and discriminated against a female assistant chief. The claims were leveled last year by a 24-year veteran who initially claimed she was wrongly passed over for promotion because of her gender.

Read More »

Today's burning question: I am a city manager and I just read about an exception in the Fair Labor Standards Act that exempts anyone making over $100,000 per year from eligibility for overtime. Do our Battalion Chiefs and perhaps even our company officers meet the criteria to fall under this exemption? Answer: Your line officers probably do not but your staff officers may.

Read More »

A federal court in Tennessee has ruled against a former fire chief who claimed his termination last year violated his due process and 1st Amendment rights. Cocke County Fire Chief William Smallwood was fired last March by County Mayor Crystal Ottinge

Read More »

Its been one of those busy fire law days, and with too many stories and too little time, we will be looking strictly at the headlines: RI (3 stories); IL, FL, NY and NJ.

Read More »

Embattled Palm Beach County Fire Chief Jeff Collins, who resigned on Friday after meeting with county officials, has informed those officials he is rescinding his resignation. Chief Collins resigned following a meeting with County Administrator Verdenia Baker, Assistant County Administrator Nancy Bolton and Human Resources Director Wayne Condry

Read More »

The San Francisco Fire Department is back in the headlines with another news report about on-duty personnel drinking. The department is investigating an incident that occurred last September at Station 11 where on-duty personnel were hosting a party for a member who was being transferred.

Read More »

A Nashville district chief accused of making disparaging statements to a recruit during a training exercise last summer, has been demoted to captain for six months in part because he was not candid in answering questions during the investigation.

Read More »