By Erin Richards
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Wisconsin)
Copyright 2006 Journal Sentinel Inc.
Four Milwaukee firefighters who lost their jobs over a sexual prank in November have been reinstated by the chief of the department.
An appeals hearing had been scheduled to begin Monday before the Fire and Police Commission on the appeals of Eric Kentowski, John Fisher, Matthew Palmer and Mark Zalewski.
Beforehand, however, Chief William Wentlandt spent three hours negotiating with the men, eventually deciding to let them keep their jobs, but with conditions. The appeals hearing was canceled.
The four - and fire Lts. James Nelson and Sean Moore — had been fired by Wentlandt in January for an incident that involved Moore performing a lewd sexual act in front of a computer camera while the others watched from a different firehouse. Nelson had posed as a woman in an Internet chat room, and that’s who Moore thought was watching him.
Attorney John Fuchs, who represented the four reinstated firefighters, said they were happy to be back on the job.
“I think the chief was able to get back some experience on the department, but he did so under his terms and only the strictest conditions,” Fuchs said. “If (the four firefighters) didn’t have the right attitude about this, I don’t think the chief would have had them back.”
Wentlandt released a statement Tuesday that said the four firefighters had expressed regret and taken full responsibility for their actions. It said the men could return under “strict penalties and work restrictions,” which include:
* Giving up their pay since January.
* Accepting an immediate 60-day suspension.
* Removing their names from current promotion lists.
* Not participating in testing for promotional exams for two years.
* Accepting work assignments from Wentlandt for the next five years.
* Returning to work as firefighters (a demotion for some from heavy-equipment operator and paramedic).
* Working under a one-year probation upon their return to the department.
Nelson’s termination was upheld by the Fire and Police Commission in May for his role in the incident, likely because his status held him to a higher standard, said Steven Fronk, hearing examiner for the commission.
Fronk said he did not know the status of Moore’s appeal.