By Fran Spielman
The Chicago Sun-Times
CHICAGO — In a sharp rebuke to Chicago’s inspector general, Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff is firing just four of the 54 firefighters accused of padding mileage expenses to the tune of $100,000 in 2009.
Six other firefighters have retired and 43 others face suspensions ranging from 30 to 60 days. Punishment for a 54th firefighter is still pending.
Inspector General Joe Ferguson had recommended that all 54 firefighters be fired and that the Fire Prevention Bureau be disbanded and replaced by civilian employees of the city Building Department.
The four firefighters terminated by Hoff were initially fired in 2008 for accepting or arranging cash payments in exchange for making weekend pump inspections.
An arbitrator subsequently reversed the firings — but were let go for padding mileage.
“They were told, ‘If you do it again, you ain’t getting another chance,’” said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
For the 43 firefighters who were suspended, Hoff said he based his disciplinary action on their “otherwise clean disciplinary records” and on Ferguson’s finding that the mileage padding was “condoned by the supervisors since well before 2009.”
In a written statement explaining his decision, Hoff noted that a 60-day suspension results in an “out-of-pocket loss” of $12,000 per employee.
“I took these allegations very seriously. ... Those who violate that trust by breaking rules and engaging in prohibited conduct will be disciplined,” the commissioner said.
Ferguson declined to comment.
Hoff noted that his June 2010 decision to tighten mileage reporting, closely monitor reports and spot check actual mileage read-outs has already reduced the average monthly reimbursement from $26,000 to $10,000.
He also demoted Nick Russell, deputy commissioner of the Fire Prevention Bureau, and Sal Marquez, the deputy chief who works under him, for exercising lax supervision.
“While I feel confident that these new reimbursement policies have addressed the process, it has not dealt with the root of the problem - the culture within the Fire Prevention Bureau that operated on a ‘because we have always done it this way’ mentality,” Hoff said.
Even the watered-down punishment did not sit well with Tom Ryan, president of the Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2, who apparently plans to challenge the firings and suspensions.
“We are going to protect the rights of our members here and are looking at all of the options available to them through our contract and the grievance process,” Ryan said in a prepared statement.
Copyright 2011 Sun-Times Media, LLC
All Rights Reserved