Richmond Register, Ky.
(MCT)
Jan. 25—A Richmond Fire Department employee is facing the consequences of illegal actions discovered by his superiors and Richmond City Commission.
Bryan Whittaker, a firefighter II with the Richmond Fire Department, is now suspended for six months from the department without pay, and required to complete a 90-day, in-person treatment at a rehabilitation center after he was charged with a DUI in November, and failed to report it to his superiors.
The Richmond Board of Commissioners made this determination on Friday, Jan. 21 at a special called meeting which lasted nearly five hours.
According to the chief of the department, Sam Kirby, who brought the infraction before the commission for punishment determination, this was not Whitaker’s first instance which included alcohol within the department.
In September of 2020, Whitaker had signed a “last chance agreement” (with regards to alcohol) with the city. In that agreement, it was stated he would be terminated if any other violations had occurred.
Despite this, the commissioners unanimously voted Whitaker did not violate the last chance agreement, and voted against terminating Whitaker’s position within the department.
However, Whitaker was found to have been in violation for several items, including “having caused disruption to the fire department including irritation to one of the members of the fire department and this annoyance and irritation continuing in the workplace.”
This violation was a unanimous decision.
Whitaker was also found to be in violation of several sections of the department’s operations of procedures and guidelines, subject of rules of conduct and expected behavior including:
—Being in violation of involvement in illegal or criminal activity while on or off duty which is strictly prohibited.
—Being in violation of all traffic violations charged against an employee which should be reported to his or her shift or division supervisor.
—Being in violation that an employee shall conduct themselves at all times both on and off duty in a manner which is in highest keepings with the fire service. An employee shall not engage in conduct unbecoming of the fire department of action which brings the department into disrepute, reflects unfavorably on an employee or member of the department or impairs operation or efficiency of the department or any of its personnel.
—He was also found to have disregarded policy that all members of the public and other employees should be treated with respect, courtesy and consideration.
These violations were all voted unanimously by the board. If Whitaker fails to comply with any of the aforementioned terms voted by the commission, he will be terminated from the department.
“I know it was a hard decision,” Kirby said following the meeting. “I know it was a hard thing for me to put forth. I think what they suggested — I hope it makes (Whitaker) better.”
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