HILO, Hawaii — A Hawaiian fire chief is embroiled in a lawsuit brought by two battalion chiefs who allege the chief fired them in retaliation.
Attorney Ted Hong filed a civil lawsuit against Fire Chief Darren Rosario on behalf of West Hawaii Battalion Chief Ty Medeiros and retired West Hawaii Battalion Chief Steve Loyola, claiming that Rosario fired the two for being whistleblowers, reported the Hawaii Tribune. Medeiros said he lost $40,000 in overtime and vacation pay; Loyola puts his figure at $51,550.
The suit claims the county was negligent in supervising Rosario and seeks reinstatement, back pay, fringe benefits, seniority, overtime and compensatory and punitive damages.
“The mistake that too many department directors make is they think the department is their own little kingdom or fiefdom, that they can do whatever they want to whomever they want,” Hong said Friday. “And, especially within the public sector, they can’t. And they should know better.”
Loyola and Medeiros previously filed for lost overtime pay and benefits, which they lost.
In September 2014 letter to the mayor and fire commissioners, Loyola requested that Rosario and Deputy Chief Renwick Victorino be fired after claiming that they put lives and safety at risk due to inadequate emergency plans. That month, Medeiros wrote a letter to Rosario demanding he resign.
Loyola alleged Rosario buried a theft investigation, violating Civil Service laws regarding promotions and fiscal improprieties regarding the oversight of a Fire Relief Association fund.
Corporate Counsel Steve Strauss represented Rosario in previous hearings regarding Loyola and Medeiros and said their actions were “a failed coup attempt.”