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Bryant fire chief returns to work |
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
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By Matt Burks
Courier Staff Embattled Bryant Fire Chief Randy Cox returned to duty today, ending a medical leave of absence that lasted about a month and a half.
Cox, 49, who has been part of a city investigation into the fire department since Feb. 28, told the Courier that he plans to work with city officials and fire department employees to help resolve the ongoing controversy.
Firefighters recently issued a vote of no confidence in Cox, who has served as chief since 1999.
Cox told the Courier that he did not let “all the negativity” surrounding the investigation affect him while he was on leave. He thanked the people who wished him well during his absence and issued the following statement about his return to work:
“I have spent 18 years with the Bryant Fire Department and served nine years of that as a paid chief. Over nine years we have accomplished a great many things, but we still have a lot to do. I am aware of issues that came up while I was on leave and I look forward to working with the city and the firefighters with these issues. I am glad to be back at work.”
Cox said he does not want to make any other comments until the investigation is completed.
Cox went on medical leave after two firefighters he had terminated were permitted by city officials to return to duty. The firefighters were terminated Feb. 6 and were allowed to return to work Feb. 14.
Firefighters issued their vote of no confidence March 13 during a City Council meeting. They cited “an absolute lack of faith in ... Cox’s ability to manage the Bryant Fire Department. Firefighters said they “have serious concerns about (Cox’s) integrity, honesty, character, and professional fire service leadership skills.”
The document also stated that Cox’s “seemingly totalitarian philosophy is not conducive to good working morale and has led to a fundamental and irreversible breakdown of trust. We feel this lack of self-control and leadership skills is leading the Bryant Fire Department to a foreseeable disaster, which the end result will be a totally dysfunctional fire department and public relations nightmare.
“We feel ... the chief is both arrogant and dictatorial, and has been unfair in promotions and discipline. He seems to have no loyalty to the Bryant firefighters and doesn’t know the difference between serving himself and others. ... ”
Lt. Daniel Weger, president of Bryant’s firefighters union, said at Monday night’s City Council meeting that he was told that Cox would return to work today. Weger said the department continues to stand behind the vote of no confidence.
Weger told the council that “while the city of Bryant has yet to recognize the Bryant Firefighters Local 4606 as a collective body, (the union) is a professional organization that respects order and whose members are both competent and willing to put their lives on the line for the citizens of Bryant every day. It should known by all of the city of Bryant’s leadership that the Bryant Fire Department local 4606 consists of 39 members. Furthermore those members voted unanimously on March 24 and March 25 to stand behind the March 13 vote of no confidence in Chief Randy Cox.
“It should be noted that this vote is not simply a result of the wrongful termination of two individuals ... it acted as a catalyst to a cache of issues that have been here for some time ... it should be reiterated that the members of the Bryant local 4606 are genuinely concerned with Chief Randy Cox’s leadership ability. The lack of concrete protocols, policies and standard operating procedures further our concerns for our safety and the safety of the citizens we protect. We feel it is immensely unprofessional and unsafe to allow these concerns to go unannounced.”
Firefighters also have expressed concern for their safety because Cox carries a city-issued handgun. Several firefighters said Cox told them before his medical leave that he “was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.” |
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