By Chhun Sun
The Gazette
FOUNTAIN, Colo. — A former Fountain Fire Department firefighter has filed a lawsuit claiming that he was fired because of his involvement with a firefighters union.
Richard Villanueva was fired June 9 after 13 years with the Fountain Fire Department.
Villanueva, who filed the lawsuit on Sept. 11, claims his rights to free speech and union association were violated because he was a vocal supporter of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4369, in which he was vice president.
The complaint alleges that Fountain fire chief Darin Anstine did not approve of Villanueva’s role in the union. In February, Anstine told “another employee that he was passed over for an EMS position because ‘he hangs out with the wrong people,’ specifically including Vice President Villanueva,” the complaint says.
Anstine did not respond to a request for comment Friday.
Villanueva said he was fired after he mishandled a medical situation. The complaint says the defendants -- including Anstine, the Fire Department and the city of Fountain -- used the incident to fire Villanueva, who claims he was not disciplined for the incident.
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