Copyright 2005 Chattanooga Publishing Company
Chattanooga Times Free Press (Tennessee)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A Chattanooga firefighter who was suspended without pay for 72 hours for refusing to clean a fire engine was given a lesser punishment Monday by a City Council panel.
Chattanooga Fire Department Chief Wendell Rowe told council members he was trying to set a precedent that no insubordination would be tolerated under his administration.
But council members Manuel Rico and Marti Rutherford voted for an eight-hour dock in pay for senior firefighter Robert Mallett.
Council member Yusuf Hakeem dissented. He said the insubordination could be “today in a fire hall, tomorrow on the fire ground.”
Mr. Mallett admitted he did not clean the engine when his supervisor issued the order because, he said, he was preparing to eat his lunch.
Chief Rowe said any kind of insubordination can be disruptive to an agency that is charged with delivering emergency services.
This was the new fire chief’s first disciplinary hearing before the council panel since his October appointment to the post.