By Mike Hall
Topeka Capital-Journal (Kansas)
Copyright 2007 The Topeka Capital-Journal
All Rights Reserved
AURORA, Colo. — Former Topeka Fire Chief Casey Jones took an abrupt retirement as chief of the Aurora Fire Department in Aurora, Colo., last week amid an investigation of allegations of misuse of city funds, having an affair with another city employee and playing golf on city time.
Attempts Monday afternoon to contact Jones, 58, were unsuccessful. He has been on administrative leave since April 27, according to Kim Stuart, communications director for the city of Aurora.
An Internet search of the Denver area media shows many news stories about the investigation going back to March.
The news coverage began when Aurora assistant city attorney Rob Werking accused Jones, who is married, of having an affair with Werking’s estranged wife, Julie Werking. Julie Werking had filed for divorce in January, according to the news accounts. Julie Werking also was an assistant city attorney assigned to provide legal advice to the fire department. When the allegations arose, the city assigned her duties elsewhere.
Rob Werking was fired when he posted the allegations on his personal blog site.
Stuart said the city hired Mountain States Employers Council to do an independent investigation of the various allegations, but Jones’ retirement last week put a stop to the investigation into his activities. The investigation into allegations against Julie Werking are continuing.
The Rocky Mountain News in Denver reported that Julie Werking has been accused of playing golf with Jones and accepting a BlackBerry he bought her with city funds.
Jones has been accused of playing golf on city time at least 23 documented times.
Before he ceased speaking to the media, Jones told a reporter that regardless of when he played golf, he always gave at least 50 hours a week to his job as fire chief.
He also denied having an affair with Julie Werking.
Jones was being paid $138,419 a year as chief and will receive salary and benefits for the next six months, by agreement with the city.
Stuart said Jones will continue to work on some projects he started, including consolidation of the 911 police and fire dispatch center.
An official announcement from the city of Jones’ retirement made no mention of the investigation or the allegations.
It cited his accomplishments since becoming Aurora chief in 2002, including cross-training firefighters as paramedics.
Jones began his career in the Topeka Fire Department and rose through the ranks to chief. He left Topeka in 1995 to become fire chief in Salem, Ore.