Saturday, January 09, 1999
Parting shot costs fire official
Criticism of training draws demotion
BY TANYA BRICKING
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Allen Boyle
|
Cincinnati District Fire Chief Allen Boyle is not one to mince words.
Three decades after joining the force, and two weeks before his retirement, the former union president's outspokenness has gotten him into trouble.
Fire Chief Robert Wright demoted him Thursday after Chief Boyle sent a two-page memo to city administrators and council members criticizing fire training.
The memo says fire training is understaffed and outdated and there should be one centralized training center instead of three locations.
He sent the letter the same day the fire division had scheduled a meeting about training improvement, angering Chief Wright, who relieved him as training chief.
“I thought of that as a nasty-gram he developed on the way walking out the door,” Chief Wright said.
Chief Boyle should have brought his concerns to his boss instead of airing them in public, Chief Wright said.
“He has a chain of command,” Chief Wright said. “This is a paramilitary organization, and he broke the chain of command.”
Chief Boyle said he will wait out his last two weeks standing on his head if he has to. His last day is Jan. 22.
“I'm just frustrated and aggravated,” he said. “And I'm not blaming the administration. This is a good fire division. ... I'm just concerned about having the staff to train a modern fire division.”
Chief Wright said the memo may have addressed legitimate concerns, but in a misplaced forum.
“Are we short of manpower? Yes,” Chief Wright said. “But we've talked about that.”
The fire division, which has 784 members, is limited by budget restrictions but is doing what it can to make improvements, he said.
Chief Boyle, 53, a former police officer who switched to firefighting early in his career, said his retirement brings mixed emotions. He's angry about being relieved of his position, but he said the division has become like a family to him.
When the new recruit class begins next week, recruits will be trained by Chief Boyle's replacement, District Fire Chief Lacey Calloway.
Accident victim goes home after 'remarkable' recovery
Icy roads cause accidents
City vs. snow: Calling all trucks
Safety, money are top issues in school closings
Tristate terrorism: What it?
Types of chemical and biological weapons
Parting shot costs fire official
Rape suspect's mother sent to jail
Defendant acquitted of raping teen
Man kills co-worker, holds hostages
Mt. McKinley name safe for this session
Brave music lovers warmly rewarded
Clermont Co. moving creek to save bridge
Dearborn Co. gets some housing help
Good news: A life restored and class acts
N.Ky. has mixed success in legislative panels
New mayor finds rocky road
Ohio 4 tract seen as top jail site
Raga becomes trustee president
Split school district discouraged
TRISTATE DIGEST
West Clermont boosts academic time
