Fla. Batt. Chief accused of smoking pot on job, resigns

Firefighters reported smelling marijuana in his county vehicle while he was on duty; he refused to take a drug test

January 22, 2015 08:21 AM

Tampa Tribune

DADE CITY, Fla. — A Pasco Fire battalion chief with 22 years experience retired over the weekend after firefighters reported smelling marijuana in his county vehicle while he was on duty Friday night.

County spokesman Doug Tobin said Battalion Chief Tim Haley was ordered to take a drug test after firefighters at the county’s fire station in Dade City reported the suspicious odor to their superiors.

“Human Resources and Fire Rescue administration conducted an investigation, and based on reasonable suspicion, he was required to take a drug test,” Tobin said. “He chose not to take the test and resigned Sunday.”

Haley had been with the department since 1993 and was promoted to the rank of battalion chief in August 2013. He was suspended in 2009 after twice losing his portable radio while on duty. But there is no record in his personnel file of a prior drug violation.