By Sara Pagones
The Advocate
ST. TAMMINY PARISH, La. — Firefighter Tom Williamson, whose complaints about Covington-area Fire Chief Steve Krentel triggered a probe of the chief, is himself the target of an investigation centered on his vocal criticism of Krentel and has been put on paid administrative leave.
Williamson, who held a news conference Monday at his lawyer Roy K. Burns Jr.'s office, said he had arrived for his regularly scheduled shift on Friday when a superior handed him paperwork and asked for his signature acknowledging that he had received two notices of investigation from St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 12’s Board of Commissioners
That same board voted last month to proceed with a full investigation into Williamson’s complaint that cited, among other things, Krentel’s romantic relationship with an employee.
Burns called the board’s action “Retaliation 101,” saying that the timing makes clear that his client is being subject to reprisals for speaking out.
The notices of investigation do not say who is making the complaints, which accuse Williamson of harassment, conflict, disorderly conduct and insubordination.
The first notice accuses Williamson of disseminating “false, misleading, slanderous and defamatory accusations regarding Chief Krentel” at the board’s Dec. 14 meeting and making “spurious and slanderous remarks about Chief Krentel in the news media without first obtaining his permission, while on duty and/or while dressed in Fire District No. 12 attire.”
Burns said that he is calling on Parish President Pat Brister to fire the Board of Commissioners and replace its members with those who are willing to investigate matters at the Fire District.
He also said his client is contemplating a lawsuit under the state’s whistleblower statute.
Williamson first lodged his complaints against Krentel on Nov. 1, the first day that Krentel returned to the job after the death of his wife, whose badly burned body was found at the site of the couple’s home, which had burned down. Her death, by a gunshot wound, has been ruled a homicide and remains under investigation.
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