Texas Chief Suspended for 'Preventable' Accident

Nov. 17, 2015
The Austin battalion chief received a three-day suspension for failing to set the vehicle's emergency brake.

Nov. 16--Austin city officials announced the temporary suspension of a fire battalion chief for being involved in what they described as a preventable car crash involving one of the fire department's vehicles.

Battalion Chief Jeff Pine was suspended for three days, with his suspension starting Tuesday, a disciplinary memo from Austin fireChief Rhoda Mae Kerr said.

Pine was also suspended for wearing an altered uniform without permission, the memo said.

The crash occurred on Aug. 15 while Pine was responding to a fire.

The memo says Pine violated department civil service rules by not setting the emergency brake while the vehicle was parked. No further details of the crash were provided in the memo, and Austin fire spokeswoman Michelle Tanzola said it is department policy to not comment about discipline measures outside of the content of the memo, including providing details about the crash.

The memo says Pine accepted full responsibility for the crash.

Copyright 2015 - Austin American-Statesman

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