PAWTUCKET, R.I. — The city of Pawtucket is upholding its decision to fire four firefighters and accept the retirements or resignations of four others after an internal investigation revealed possible criminal conduct within the fire department.
The firefighters’ union, IAFF Local 1261, is pushing back against the city’s decision, calling the terminations “unjust” and pledging to pursue arbitration, WJAR reported. In a written statement, Union President Erik Cordeiro said all four dismissed firefighters had “impeccable and unblemished service records.”
City attorney Vincent Ragosta said that the investigation by Pawtucket police, fire department leadership and the city’s personnel office uncovered conduct that was “fully incompatible and contrary to the duties and obligations of sworn firefighters.”
“It has elements of all three of those categories,” Ragosta said, “But primarily, it was behavioral. It impacts operations in the sense that every firefighter is required to be fit, alert and available to perform critical life-saving duties.”
Cordeiro also accused Ragosta of admitting during the pre-deprivation hearings that he withheld evidence, adding that “the only evidence presented consisted of text messages from three years ago.”
When asked why additional details have not been disclosed, Ragosta said the city needs to preserve the integrity of the criminal investigation and prevent any risk to potential prosecutions.
Despite the recent staffing changes, Ragosta said the city is still meeting all minimum and general staffing requirements and will move quickly to begin filling the vacant positions.
