IA State Senator, FF Resigns over Cross-Training Policy

Feb. 15, 2019
Jeff Danielson stepped down as a Cedar Falls firefighter and a state senator because of his objections to a city policy cross-training police to perform firefighting duties.

An Iowa lawmaker and firefighter stepped down from both of those positions Thursday stemming from a continued dispute revolving around a city policy of cross-training police officers to work as firefighters.

Jeff Danielson announced his immediate resignations as a state senator and a Cedar Falls firefighter in an interview with KWWL-TV. His decision in both cases was based on his ongoing objections to Cedar Falls' Public Safety Officer program, which trains city police to allow them to perform firefighters' duties.

"The situation has gotten so bad I have to leave," Danielson, 48, told KWWL about his decision, which city officials learned about through Thursday's interview.

At least 10 Cedar Falls firefighters have resigned because of the controversial program over a 12-month period, The Courier in Waterloo, IA, reports

Danielson had been vice president of the city's firefighters union, and the Democrat was in his fourth term in the Iowa Senate. Gov. Kim Reynolds now must schedule a special election, and that race's winner will be up for re-election in 2020, according to KWWL.

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