Pubdate: Wed, 05 Oct 2005
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI)
Copyright: 2005 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.jsonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265
Author: Lisa Sink
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

FIRE CAPTAIN DEMOTED ON MARIJUANA ISSUE

Commission Finds He Failed To Investigate Possible Use At Station

Town of Brookfield - A town fire captain has been demoted to lieutenant for 
a series of problems that officials said included his failure to 
investigate possible marijuana use at the fire station.

No marijuana was found, but the captain waited six weeks before reporting 
that he had smelled marijuana, Town Administrator Richard Czopp said Tuesday.

According to documents Fire Chief Alex Felde filed with the town Police and 
Fire Commission:

Then-Capt. Tim Meyer told Felde about the possible marijuana use July 13 
when Felde questioned Meyer about problems with the captain's record 
keeping and use of equipment.

Meyer said other firefighters were "out to get him, and that the chief was 
unaware of all the things they were doing."

Asked by Felde to elaborate, Meyer said that on Memorial Day he smelled 
marijuana in the station's bay.

Meyer said he didn't investigate it or report it to police "because he was 
concerned with the potential for retaliation or 'ribbing' from his 
subordinates," according to the commission's written findings.

In an interview Tuesday, Meyer said he believes he was mistaken and that 
there was no marijuana in the fire house.

"It was just an odor, and there was no proof," said Meyer, who noted that 
he found none of the illegal drug in the station.

"We have a lot of fine people in the department, and if it turned out not 
to be the case, it could be very damaging to those individuals," Meyer said 
of the marijuana odor.

Meyer, who has worked for the town's Fire Department since 1989 and served 
as captain since 1996, said he was disappointed but will not appeal the 
matter further.

"I'm proud of my record over the last 16 years," he said. "The department 
has come a long way. While I'm disappointed, I accept the decision of the 
commission, and I'd like to move on."

Czopp said in an interview that he questioned the firefighters who were 
working May 30 and they denied any marijuana use.

Felde demoted Meyer from captain to firefighter effective July 13. Meyer 
appealed, and the town Police and Fire Commission voted unanimously after a 
Sept. 12 hearing to instead demote Meyer's rank one level to lieutenant.

The commission's findings state: "It is uncontroverted that Mr. Meyer has a 
good record and outside of the incidents underlying the charges has 
received only minor discipline. Accordingly, a two-level reduction in rank 
goes too far."

Commissioners also said Meyer should not have lost his captain's salary 
during his appeal and ordered that he receive back pay. Czopp said the 
salary for captains and lieutenants is the same, so Meyer will not lose any 
money with his demotion.

Commissioners upheld three of four departmental charges Felde filed against 
Meyer.

The one they did not uphold was a charge that Meyer failed to respond 
properly to a mutual aid request July 10 from Elm Grove for a ladder truck 
for a fire. Commissioners said dispatch records showed Meyer did respond to 
the request.

Commissioners agreed with Felde that Meyer had improperly directed his 
subordinates that they did not need to wear masks while responding to a 
waste bin fire June 22 next to Wong's Wok on W. Blue Mound Road. Meyer also 
failed to wear a mask and carry a thermal imaging camera.

He also was faulted for failing to complete reports for multiple calls in 
May and June, and failing to report the potential marijuana incident.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D