POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A battalion chief lost his job over pay he and his crews received, documents obtained by News Channel 8 show.
As the firefighter union appeals the termination, county commissioners are demanding a full review of the department.
“I think we have a management problem in our fire department and Mr. Beasley that starts with you,” County Commissioner Bill Braswell told County Manager Bill Beasley at Tuesday’s commission meeting.
Braswell said he learned about the firing of Battalion Chief Charles True this week on social media, days after his termination and months after an investigation was launched.
“You can blame the rank and file up until a point and then you gotta start looking at management and that’s where we’re at,” said Braswell. In August, Polk Fire Rescue crews joined the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to help with Hurricane Idalia relief efforts in Levy County.
According to a Polk County Fire Rescue investigative report, Battalion Chief True was told to split crews into 12-hour shifts. Instead, members told investigators, there was so much to do, they kept working past their shift.
Battalion Chief True told investigators he was told to document the hours worked and the members would be paid for what they worked, the investigative report said. The result was an expenditure of about $60,000 according to True’s termination memo.
On Jan. 5, True was fired for failure to supervise, compliance of orders and insubordination, and untruthfulness. He had served with the department since 2006.
The Polk County Professional Firefighters – IAFF Local 3531 is appealing True’s firing.
“Polk County Professional Firefighters is actively appealing the unjust termination of Battalion Chief True. By all measures, he was an outstanding employee and leader of Polk County Fire Rescue. We will continue to aggressively defend our members rights and appreciate the support from the community which we serve,” wrote union Vice President Jon Hall.
Friends, family, and supporters of Battalion Chief True are displaying a 7ACT badge as their profile picture in solidarity with the battalion chief. The county has requested an out firm launch an investigation to review this case.
Original Article by Staci DaSilva: https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county-fire-battalion-chief-fired-after-payment-dispute/?fbclid=IwAR3c9m-djguip-4B_PWUCsEXo7LTJYRxpc5UON9d90NyQsOf4YJb1BIap4w
