By John Coté
The San Francisco Chronicle (California)
Copyright 2006 The Chronicle Publishing Co.
All Rights Reserved
Fire Chief Jeff Clet has volunteered to give up his post and take a pay cut of thousands of dollars so his son can try to get a job with the Fire Department.
Under a nepotism policy put in place in March 2005, Clet’s son, Steven, cannot be hired at the department while his father is chief.
Chief Clet will take a middle-management position as a battalion chief effective Sunday, Capt. Alberto Olmos said. Assistant Chief Darryl Von Raesfeld will take over as interim chief.
“His decision was a father’s decision,” Olmos said. “The most important thing he has is his family. ... It’s a tough decision, but I think everybody supports the decision the chief made.”
Steven Clet has been given a conditional job offer to be a firefighter, which would make him the third generation of his family to serve in the fire department of the Bay Area’s largest city, Olmos said.
Jeff Clet was hired at the department by his father, former Fire Chief Vince Clet.
“He’s a man of honor,” Olmos said. “He’s doing what he feels is the right thing to do for his family.”