Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jun 2001
Source: Wisconsin State Journal (WI)
Copyright: 2001 Madison Newspapers, Inc
Contact:  http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/506
Author: Barry Adams, Police reporter

5TH FIREFIGHTER FIRED; AMESQUA SEEKS OUSTER OF 2 MORE

As a fifth Madison firefighter was fired, Chief Debra Amesqua said 
disciplinary hearings are not over.

Amesqua said Thursday that she will ask the Police and Fire Commission to 
fire two more firefighters on allegations of cocaine use that arose from a 
late-1990s police investigation of Jocko's Rocket Ship bar.

Amesqua will meet with the commission and attorneys for firefighters Dan 
Madden and Joe Reznikoff on July 9 to schedule termination hearings, which 
could begin in July or August, said Scott Herrick, the PFC's attorney.

Meanwhile, the PFC announced that firefighter Marc Behrend has been 
terminated. The PFC said he lied to investigators during the Fire 
Department's investigation. The commission dismissed two other disciplinary 
charges Amesqua had filed. The charges accused Behrend of using cocaine or 
possessing cocaine and of conduct that brought the disrepute to the department.

"Marc Behrend was discharged for his refusal to involve non-firefighters in 
this investigation. He stands by his refusal," Behrend's attorney Jon 
Jackson said.

Behrend played professional hockey as a goaltender for the Winnipeg Jets 
from 1983 to 1986. He played in the 1984 Winter Olympics. He played at 
Madison La Follette High School and for UW-Madison, including on the 
Badgers' 1981 and 1983 NCAA championship teams.

Behrend was out of town, and Jackson said he did not know if his client 
would appeal the PFC decision.

Unlike Behrend and four other firefighters who were suspended with pay 
during their hearings, Reznikoff and Madden remain on the job. If that 
continues through the hearings, it will dramatically reduce the cost, 
Herrick said.

City officials estimate that costs associated with the previous five 
hearings are approaching $1 million.

In December, when Amesqua asked the commission to fire firefighters Tracy 
Patterson, David Barlow, Paul Elvord, Chris Gentilli and Behrend, she asked 
that Madden and Reznikoff be suspended for a year and that all of them 
submit to random drug testing for three years.

However, the PFC ruled during the Gentilli hearings said that it doesn't 
have authority to order random drug testing.

Lacking such testing, Amesqua said, she decided to ask the PFC to fire 
Madden and Reznikoff.

Attorney Bruce Ehlke, who represents both Madden and Reznikoff, blasted 
Amesqua's decision.

"We've got a woman here who has no ties to the community, absolutely no 
interest in this community and absolutely no rapport or interest in the 
firefighters of the city of Madison. What you're telling me doesn't 
surprise me, but, boy I think we really have something special here in 
Debra Amesqua," Ehlke said.

Drug testing and the department's drug policies will likely be an issue 
when the city begins contract negotiations with the firefighters union. The 
current two-year contract expires Dec. 31. A drug policy committee of union 
members and Fire Department administrators is working on a drug policy for 
the next labor pact.

Amesqua said she was pleased with PFC rulings in the five terminations 
because it reinforces the department's high standards.

"It should be a comfort to the community," Amesqua said. "They clearly are 
sending a message that we expect high standards for our public safety 
employees and we maintain those high standards."
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