NEWARK, N.J. — Newark Fire Department’s fire director is under scrutiny after naming a recently hired payroll clerk, who happens to be his future daughter-in-law, to serve as acting director while he takes vacation.
NJ.com reported that Director James Stewart hired Tawan Baxter as chief clerk Aug. 24 and will be acting fire director for one week. Baxter is engaged to Stewart’s son, Anwar Ahbanawa, a 21-year veteran who works in his father’s office.
Spokesman Capt. John Brown said Baxter is well-qualified to take over for Stewart, having served in senior and executive positions in the insurance and health care fields.
“She comes with a very impressive resume, and she’s in constant contact with the director,” Capt. Brown said.
The fire director is the top civilian position and is responsible for promotions, discipline and other policy matters. At least one previous fire director would appoint his secretary to fill in while he was away; that move also drew criticism.
Sources at the department say that while Baxter has done a good job running the department’s payroll, overseeing the department has already drawn widespread complaints.
“I’m not even sure why he would name her acting director. The rank and file would rather see a qualified person running their fire department for the week,” one member of the department said. “It’s keeping it in the family.”
Earlier this year, union officials complained about perceptions of favoritism within the department after a longtime battalion chief was denied transfer to an arson unit because he was white.
Stewart has also faced discrimination claims and attention from law enforcement since being named director in 2013. Last year, he was the subject of an investigation after he allegedly gave firearms to employees who weren’t allowed to carry guns. He was also under fire for allowing an unqualified politically connected candidate into the fire academy.
The status of the investigations is unclear. No charges or indictments have been filed yet.