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Firefighters: We fear for our safety |
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Tuesday, 18 March 2008 |
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By Whit Jones
Courier Staff Bryant firefighters, who already have said they have no confidence in Chief Randy Cox, now say they are concerned for their safety because Cox carries a city-issued handgun.
It is not unusual for fire chiefs or other high-ranking fire officials to be issued handguns, according to various officials. However, Bryant firefighters say their concerns stem from Cox’s alleged admissions that he felt he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Cox has been on medical leave since Feb. 18. Several firefighters said Cox told them he was going on leave because “I am having a nervous breakdown and cannot handle it anymore.”
Cox went on medical leave after firefighter Chris Spruell and Battalion Chief Brian Watson were permitted by city officials to return to their jobs. Cox had terminated the two for alleged problems with time cards.
City officials acknowledged last week that Cox is under investigation for various allegations from firefighters. Information from the investigation is being kept sealed in the police department’s evidence locker per a request from the City Council.
Five firefighters took letters to Mayor Larry Mitchell’s office Monday outlining their safety concerns. Mitchell was ill Monday but told the Courier that he read the letters this morning.
“I think this is a coordinated effort by five firefighters to further question (Cox’s) abilities as fire chief,” Mitchell said. “The letters all have the same subject matter.”
Lt. Daniel Weger, president of Bryant’s firefighters union, said in his letter that the situation with Cox is “a ticking time bomb waiting to happen. I fear for my life along with everyone else’s life that works for the Bryant Fire Department.”
Weger said that Assistant Chief Brandon Futch said he felt so uneasy one night in the car with Cox that Futch “kept my hand on my knife all the way to the [fire] station.”
Futch also has a city-issued handgun, according to Weger.
Firefighter Kendall Marshall said he feels uneasy when on duty at the main fire station.
“I cannot rest ... knowing that (Cox) could come in at any time and do harm to me or other members of this department,” Marshall said in his letter.
Marshall said the situation “has also affected my wife and kids. They are on edge when I go to the station and have been worried for my safety.”
Cox allegedly has made statements at the station such as “If you cross me, I will cut your legs out from under you,” Marshall wrote.
Firefighter Rick Morris said in a letter that Cox “began yelling at me and belittling me in the middle of the road” while department members were at the scene of a vehicle accident.
“When (Cox) perceives word or an order is being questioned,” Morris said, “he will start yelling and threatening a person’s job.”
Members of International Association of Firefighters 4606, a relatively new Bryant fire union, last week issued the vote of no confidence in Cox. They presented the vote to the City Council at a meeting Thursday night.
Firefighters leveled a number of charges in their vote. They said they “have serious concerns about (Cox’s) integrity, honesty, character, and professional fire service leadership skills.” They also alleged that Cox’s “seemingly totalitarian philosophy is not conducive to good working morale and has led to a fundamental and irreversible breakdown of trust.”
Firefighters said Cox’s alleged behavior could lead “to a totally dysfunctional fire department and public relations nightmare” for the city.
Mitchell agreed this morning that the issues surrounding Cox need to be resolved as quickly as possible.
“I have no idea when all of this might end,” Mitchell said, “but the sooner the better, obviously.”
Cox, who has been chief since 1999, has been unavailable for comment. Mitchell said Cox has a doctor’s appointment Thursday and could return to work by Monday.
Mitchell said Freedom of Information Act requests have been made pertaining to the city’s investigation of Cox. He said the city has asked the state attorney general’s office to rule on whether information from the investigation can be released.
Mitchell also said that there is a possibility that the city will request an independent investigation once its inquiry is completed.
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