Ex ID Captain Files Suit for Wrongful Termination

KIMBERLY — A former finalist in the search for a new fire chief in Twin Falls has been named as a defendant in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed against a local fire district.

Former training Capt. Brent Blamires of Kimberly filed suit in July against Rock Creek Rural Fire District and Chief Jason Keller for violating Idaho’s Whistleblower Act and for wrongful termination.

Keller was Blamires’ direct supervisor from the time Blamires was hired in October 2011 until he was terminated in January.

Blamires claims he was fired for blowing the whistle on Keller’s driving a fire district vehicle while under the influence, which led to Keller’s week-long suspension in August 2015. Blamires’ complaint also lists numerous allegations of harassment and retaliation against Blamires by Keller and the fire district.

Keller fired Blamires “for ‘disorderly conduct’ and alleged that Captain Blamires’ actions and ‘negative communications’ were affecting both the department and individual employee morale within it,” the complaint says.

The defendants have until Sept. 1 to answer Blamires’ complaint.

Twin Falls announced two weeks ago that it had narrowed the search to Keller and two other candidates to fill the void created by the recent retirement of Ron Clark, a 40-year veteran of the department who served the last 18 years as chief.

“Mr. Keller has since been excluded from the process,” city spokesman Joshua Palmer said Friday.

A Kimberly resident and former Twin Falls city firefighter, Keller has been chief at Rock Creek since June 2011. The Rock Creek Rural Fire District covers the eastern part of Twin Falls County — including Kimberly, Hansen and Murtaugh — and a portion of Cassia County.

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©2016 The Times-News (Twin Falls, Idaho)

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