Jan. 10--The Milwaukee Fire Department's Board of Investigation has recommended that Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing fire five employees for failing to prevent or report extensive vandalism and disorder at Engine 32, according to a department statement released Friday.
Nine Milwaukee firefighters were placed on administrative suspension in the first week of October in connection with the vandalism. Of the suspended firefighters, two have since retired and two who were probationary employees were fired.
The remaining five who were recommended for firing -- and who have not been named by the department -- will have an opportunity to present their own evidence and argument to the fire chief before he makes a final decision to discharge, suspend and/or order remedial training, according to a department news release.
The investigation centered on vandalism that occurred Sept. 28 at Engine House 32 on N. 30th St. during the overnight shift. That shift was the last before many of the firefighters assigned there were to be transferred.
Assistant Chief Gerard Washington led the three-months-long internal investigation and was not available for comment Friday.
Rohlfing, who also was not available for comment Friday, has not discussed the specific acts of vandalism, saying he was waiting for findings from the internal investigation, but has called the situation "upsetting and disappointing."
"Our core value is integrity, and we hold them to a pretty high standard," Rohlfing said in an October interview.
If Rohlfing does fire or suspend the employees for more than five days, the employees can appeal to the city's Fire and Police Commission, per state law. Probationary employees do not have the same recourse.
Nathan Fager and Joseph Siegert, the probationary firefighters who were fired in October, launched efforts to get their jobs back and delivered a petition seeking their reinstatement to the Fire and Police Commission.
The commission's executive director, Michael Tobin, said Friday it would be inappropriate to discuss anything more than procedural steps because the investigation remains an open personnel matter.
"I do know that nothing involved in this incident ever jeopardized the safety of the public," Tobin wrote in an email to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
He added: "While we will deal with this incident and the individuals involved appropriately, it should not outweigh all of the good work that is done by the fire department every day."
In a statement released Friday, Mayor Tom Barrett said city firefighters and residents deserve "so much more respect and professionalism than the behavior, as outlined in the complaint, displayed by a handful of firefighters."
The firefighters involved in the vandalism "have embarrassed their colleagues, the Fire Department and City of Milwaukee taxpayers," Barrett said, adding that "there must be consequences for their actions."
Officials with the Milwaukee Professional Firefighters Association Local 215 did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
Fire Department officials have not said what type of vandalism occurred or how much it cost for repairs.
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