Firefighter Discipline in The Headlines

Two firefighter discipline cases are in the Fire Law headlines, both involving possible criminal conduct. In Pawtucket, Rhode Island, eight firefighters are out of their jobs, four by resignation and four by termination. The nature of the misconduct has not been publicly released, but the City released the following public statement:

• The City of Pawtucket Human Resources Department in coordination with the Pawtucket Fire Department and the Pawtucket Police Department has concluded an internal investigation into 8 Pawtucket firefighters for violations of the Rules and Regulations of the Pawtucket Fire Department.
• That investigation has determined that these firefighters engaged in possible criminal activity resulting in violations of the public trust.
• As a result, 4 firefighters have been terminated by the City effective today, and 4 have chosen to resign and/or apply for retirement in lieu of taking part in the pre-termination hearing process.
• We are unable to comment further at this time due to an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted in coordination with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.
• While these matters are serious and remain under investigation, it is important to emphasize that the actions of these firefighters do not reflect the dedication, integrity, or professionalism of the Fire Department as a whole.
• Finally, we want to reassure our residents that thanks to the standards and procedures the Pawtucket Fire Department has in place, at no time was public safety at risk.
• The Fire Department is committed to providing a high level of care while maintaining full fire and emergency response services to our community.”

Pawtucket firefighters IAFF Local 1261 released a statement saying:

• Late yesterday afternoon, the City of Pawtucket unjustly terminated four fire fighters without just cause.
• All four fire fighters in question had impeccable and unblemished service records with the department.
• During their pre-deprivation hearings the city’s hired attorney Vincent Ragosta, willingly expressed he withheld evidence that the city was using to support their ill-guided terminations.
• Furthermore, the sole evidence that was presented was in the form of text messages from three years ago.
• For Mr. Ragosta to make such a ridiculous statement like “I have seen cases that are very atrocious in terms of behavior, but I haven’t seen anything to this degree or this extent” is beyond comprehension.
• Luckily for the members of this union, we have binding arbitration.
• The binding arbitration process protects our membership from this form of ill-advised and unjust terminations.
• The Union will vigorously defend the wrongfully terminated fire fighters in the arbitration arena, we will most certainly not present our case, unlike Mr. Ragosta, in the court of public opinion.
• Pawtucket Fire Fighters have always and without question will continue to provide the residents of the city with the professionalism and expertise they deserve.
• Our unwavering commitment to public safety is second to none.

More on the Pawtucket case.

In Delaware, two volunteer firefighters are facing criminal charges following a State Police investigation into them chasing a third firefighter around a firehouse in Millville with rope shaped like a noose and making racist comments. The incident reportedly happened in February 2024, but was reported to the police earlier this month. Both firefighters have been removed from the department.   

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