Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jul 2000
Source: Omaha World-Herald (NE)
Copyright: 2000 Omaha World-Herald Company.
Contact:  http://www.omaha.com/
Forum: http://chat.omaha.com/
Author: Joseph Morton

FIRE CHIEF SAYS DRUG CHARGES WARRANT FIRING

Omaha Fire Chief Paul Wagner has recommended that two Omaha
firefighters charged with felony drug possession earlier this year be
kicked out of the Fire Department.

"This was a very hard decision to make," Wagner said of his
recommendation to fire Dale Hanna and Brian Decker. "It wasn't done
lightly."

Hanna and Decker had been suspended without pay. Police arrested them
in May after finding drug paraphernalia and bags with drug residue at
Decker's house and marijuana, foil with methamphetamine residue and
drug paraphernalia at Hanna's home.

Mike McDonnell, president of the Omaha Firefighters Union, said the
planned punishment goes too far.

"We're talking about taking away someone's career, their livelihood,
their ability to support their family," he said. "It's not a fair
punishment."

Decker and Hanna have entered a court-supervised treatment program. If
they complete the program, charges against them will be dismissed.

That is the kind of second chance the two deserve, McDonnell said.
They made a mistake that cannot be condoned, he said, but their
service to Omaha also should be considered.

"Their hearts have been ripped out - they're disappointed and upset,"
McDonnell said. "They're just asking for a second chance."

Hanna has been an Omaha firefighter since 1988.

Decker was critically burned while saving a 2-year-old girl from a
house fire in 1993, an act for which he received the department's
first Medal of Valor.

Wagner said he recognized the firefighters' service, but the
seriousness of the drug involved made the terminations warranted.

"Somewhere along the line a decision has to be made when we are in
issues that are of such nature that they require more than the average
punishment," Wagner said.

The next step is a hearing with the department's personnel director.
Historically, the personnel director upholds the chief's decision,
McDonnell said.

After that hearing, the firefighters will choose whether to take their
case to the department's personnel board or to an outside arbitrator,
McDonnell said.
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