BY WALT SCHAEFER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NORWOOD -- On his first full day as acting fire chief here, Craig Williamson described the mood of the fire department as "cautious" after the firing Thursday of former chief David Walters.
"Everybody is deeply moved by this," Acting Chief Williamson said, adding that he supports his former boss.
"I have the utmost respect for Dave Walters," he said Friday. "I've known David ever since I was a little boy . . .. I hope that the best will be the outcome of this situation and I would hope that I get to see him sitting in this chair as chief again someday."
Acting Chief Williamson, who was the ranking captain on the 46-member department, was appointed Thursday by Mayor Joe Hochbein after the mayor fired Mr. Walters and placed Assistant Fire Chief Tim Sennett on administrative leave amid allegations of misconduct, unauthorized computer use and a cover-up.
Mr. Hochbein's action, which was reviewed by City Law Director Timothy A. Garry Jr., is subject to a civil service commission hearing within five days of the firing. If it is affirmed, Mr. Walters may appeal his dismissal to Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. If the commission does not affirm the termination, the city may appeal to the court, the mayor said.
Asked if Mr. Walters held the respect of the rank and file, Acting Chief Williamson said: "You have to come up through the ranks of this department. You can't do that without respect . . . When you are involved in the fire service, you become a family. When you lose a member of a family such as this, it's devastating, but we will move forward."
Mayor Hochbein dismissed Mr. Walters -- a 25-year department veteran -- saying the chief had aborted an internal investigation of the allegations against Assistant Chief Sennett. He said the chief "violated the direct orders of Safety Director Paul Bazzano, compromised an internal investigation, destroyed evidence, failed to disclose his misconduct until confronted with it and then failed to take responsibility."
Officials said that Assistant Chief Sennett played games on department computers for 12- to 16-hour stints, was intoxicated at the firehouse, and was involved in an incident last year at Rumors, a Mount Carmel strip club. Those allegations surfaced in an anonymous letter sent to the mayor.
Mr. Bazzano said Mr. Walters' meddling in the investigation of Assistant Chief Sennett forces him to appoint another investigator and begin the task anew.
Mayor Hochbein praised the courage of firefighters who stepped forward to assist the investigation. Allegations that the former chief violated a direct order and destroyed computer evidence were given to the investigator -- former Assistant Chief William Van Antwerp -- by a firefighter. That firefighter was asked by Mr. Sennett to remove computer data because he was under investigation, the mayor said.
"That took an enormous amount of courage, and I'm proud of that firefighter who came forward," Mr Hochbein said. He declined to name him.
Fire Department Engineer Rickie Paul, president of Norwood Firefighters Local 445, said the former chief is not part of the bargaining group, but union officials will attend the civil service hearing.
"We do not know all of the facts . . . the specifics. We do not want to just cast him aside and say, "Hey, you were the baddest person there is,' ," Mr. Paul said. "We want the facts laid out on the table, and not make a rash decision or judgment. We do not want to condemn him."
This action is the latest of several incidents in which city officials have come under scrutiny recently.
Last year, Service Director Gary Hubbard was suspended for 10 days without pay by the mayor after he sent a letter to the Ohio Liquor Commission on city letterhead, asking the commission to reconsider revoking a tavern's license for gambling.
Last October, there were allegations that Mr. Hubbard made derogatory comments about a police officer, but those charges could not be substantiated by an independent fact-finder appointed by the mayor. The allegations involved unfounded reports Mr. Hubbard said he wished a gunman had killed Capt. Tom Williams instead of wounding him. The captain was shot in the arm Aug. 3 while trying to talk an armed man out of a Sherman Avenue house.
Also last October, Mayor Hochbein lambasted a group of police officers here who gave Police Chief Tim Brown a "no confidence" vote in June, calling all but one of their complaints "extremely petty." One charge that hinted of possible criminal activity was turned over the Hamilton County sheriff's office for investigation and was determined to be unfounded.
In February, 1997, Safety Director Jeff Miller was relieved of his duties by the mayor over a job performance disagreement. He was replaced by interim Safety Director Rick Guy. Mr. Bazzano was named safety director in January.
