The union representing a group of firefighters in Yavapai County has overwhelmingly passed a motion of no confidence against the fire chief, who members say created a hostile work environment, falsified public records and violated contract agreements. It was approved.
On September 10, the United Yavapai Fire Department Local 3066 Chapter of the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA) passed a motion of no confidence in Chief Scott Freitag. The union announced that 96% of voters supported the move.
The union did not say how many members were involved in the vote, citing concerns about retaliation. It was not immediately clear how firefighters would be compensated based on the anonymous vote count.
Union president Ben Roche wrote in a letter to the CAFMA board that the vote reflected union members’ dissatisfaction with Freitag’s “misleading, false and disrespectful conduct on a variety of issues.”
Representatives from the CAFMA board did not respond to requests for comment.
In a statement, Freitag denied the charges against him and said he hoped an external investigation would clear his name.
But Roche said the International Association of Firefighters’ 2,520 delegates representing all 50 states and 350,000 members voted unanimously to censure Freitag at its 57th annual convention last month. Ta.
Arizona Professional Firefighters President Don Jongeward told The Arizona Republic that Freitag’s actions toward those who risk their lives to serve their communities are unacceptable.
“A bad fire chief puts the entire community at risk,” Jonegeward said. “It’s not just about firefighter safety. And the culture he’s created, it’s a bully mentality. It’s full of retaliation. Members speak out because they’re afraid of losing their jobs, promotions, or some form of retaliation.” It’s a culture that needs to change.”
Jongeward said Freitag was choosing which policies to follow and which to ignore, with a ratio of three firefighters to one administrative staff member, compared to the more common ratio of seven firefighters to one staff member. He added that he has created a top-class organization.
Jongeward said Freitag nearly doubled CAFMA’s budget from the previous year. $24 million to $47 million But in addition to spending money on hiring administrative staff, it also spent about $700,000 on vehicles for them.
Due to a lack of adequate firefighter staffing, CAFMA firefighters are often assigned only three firefighters per engine, rather than the standard four. Jongeward said engines with fewer than four firefighters were less efficient at fighting fires and had a higher risk of injury.
“When we don’t have enough firefighters, we can’t do our jobs properly,” Jongeward said.
He added that the national standard is that if two firefighters enter a burning building, two firefighters should go outside and be ready to rescue if necessary. . “2 in 2 out” rule This is cited by the National Fire Protection Association and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
With only three people on staff, Jongewaard said, firefighters have to either delay entering the building until more people arrive, or take the risk of never leaving the building again. He said he was forced to decide whether to go inside.
Rather than addressing firefighters’ complaints, Jongeward alleges Freitag attacks and abuses those who raise concerns or suggest improvements.
“This is a dictatorship,” Jongeward said. “He built this kingdom for himself, and he’s also a great self-promoter. He’s good at manipulating facts and he’s a narcissist. That’s not what these members want in a leader. do not have.”
In a written statement prepared with his attorney, Mr. Freitag categorically denies many of the accusations leveled against him, and the investigation is being conducted by a third-party attorney hired by the CAFMA board.
“I have never engaged in any wrongdoing or unethical behavior, nor have I violated any contractual agreement,” Freitag wrote. “I believe that the report from the external investigator will clear up these allegations. My record over the 11 years I have been with CAFMA is clear and the allegations made against me are in no way reflected. I haven’t.”
Freitag stressed that he and Deputy Commissioner John Fedema were not involved in the previous investigation conducted by CAFMA, which he said ultimately resulted in exoneration.
The chief also argued in the letter that 96% of those who voted to pass the no-confidence motion were made up of meeting attendees, not the union as a whole.
Freitag also named Jongeward in the letter, alleging that he was “on an unjust and deliberate mission to destroy my reputation and deprive me of my livelihood,” and that Jongeward was a member of the Arizona Professional Fire Department. He said that he said this at a council meeting.
Freitag said in the letter that he believes he was targeted in part because CAFMA expressed concerns about the business practices of mental and behavioral health organizations affiliated with the union.
Mr. Jongeward argued that CAFMA firefighters’ complaints against Freitag include a long-standing series of issues.
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