The Courier Journal
BULLITT COUNTY, Ky. — Responding to public outcry, Bullitt Fiscal Court on Tuesday approved removing Southeast Bullitt Fire Chief Julius Hatfield from his position as a trustee on the fire protection district board.
Hatfield, who was not present at the meeting, is currently under investigation for fraud concerning how the fire district has spent tax dollars and has recently come under fire for making racist remarks at the scene of a car accident. In addition to being chief, his serves as president of the fire board and vice chair of the Southeast Bullitt Fire Corp., a private company that the board contracted to provide fire protection services.
The court cannot legally remove Hatfield from his positions as fire chief or vice chair of the corporation, but state law does allow the elected body to remove him as trustee on the grounds of a conflict of interest and malfeasance, or wrongdoing, county attorney Monica Robinson said. Before a full courtroom Tuesday, the court approved the removal and scheduled a hearing date during which Hatfield can respond. The hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Dec. 16.
Full story: Local leaders urge Bullitt Fire Chief to resign