HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 08-18 Maplewood investigates complaint, puts five fire department employees on leave MAPLEWOOD REVIEW2/17/2016 Maplewood investigates complaint, puts five fire department employees on leave I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
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Submitted by plarkin on Tue, 08/18/2015 - 3:23pm
By: Erin Hinrichs
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In response to a complaint filed with the city, Maplewood
Fire Chief Steve Lukin and Assistant Fire Chief Clarence
"Butch" Gervais, along with four of their colleagues with the
Maplewood Fire Department, were placed on administrative
hold on Monday.
A request for specifics of the complaint that triggered the
investigation was denied by City Manager Melinda
Coleman, who said the situation is currently being handled
internally.
"We're handling it as an HR [human resources] issue," she
said. "The fewer people who know about it the better, to
protect our employees' rights."
Under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, the
city is allowed to withhold certain records.
The City Council members are not privy to the details of the
investigation at this point, Coleman said.
Police Chief Paul Schnell and city attorney Alan Kantrud both deferred to Coleman for comment.
In addition to Lukin and Gervais, firefighter and paramedic Richard Dawson, firefighter and paramedic Mike Streff, part-time
firefighter and EMT Joseph Kerska, and part-time firefighter and EMT Reid Troxel were placed on leave.
As of April, the city employs 18 full-time firefighters, 40 part-time firefighters and EMTs, and three full-time administrative staff. They
work out of three stations.
The current investigation comes at a time when the North St. Paul Fire Department is working to secure a Joint Powers Agreement
with Maplewood for the new East Metro Fire Training Center.
"We're hoping to have the investigation completed by the end of the week," Coleman said.
Erin Hinrichs can be reached at 651-748-7814 and ehinrichs@lillienews.com. Follow her at twitter.com/EHinrichsNews.
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