By Carolyn Smith
News-Democrat
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — A veteran East St. Louis firefighter who was charged in Texas with drug possession has been terminated by the East St. Louis Police and Fire Board.
Khari Sharp, a 10-year veteran of the department, said he plans to appeal. His lawyer, Eric Kayira, argued he did not have time to prepare an adequate defense.
This firing, which came late Tuesday night after a meeting of the board, was not due to the pending drug charges. Fire Chief Jason Blackmon recommended that Sharp be terminated for disobeying a direct order to go with Assistant Chief Derrick Burns and Union Local 23 President Brandon Walls to Memorial Hospital in Belleville to take a drug test. The test must be taken within an hour after an order is issued, according to the union contract. Blackmon issued the order on March 14.
Full story: East St. Louis fires veteran firefighter for disobeying order to take drug test