Suspended Tarrant, AL, Fire Chief Fighting City Hall

An ongoing legal and employment dispute between an Alabama fire chief and city officials took another turn with harassment allegations leveled against him along with a suspension and an upcoming investigation.

The incident is another chapter to the saga involving Tarrant Fire Chief Jason Rickels and his fight with the city over his employment, his previous firing and his demand for a six-figure settlement.

Rickels’ attorney said the latest action is designed to embarrass and disparage his client as the city remains at an impasse over settlement talks.

The Tarrant City Council this week was surprised when Mayor Wayman Newton passed out a letter accusing Rickels of harassing another firefighter and recommended placing him on administrative leave with pay. The council then held a special meeting Wednesday to approve the recommendation.

“Both the city and the council attorneys will recommend and present credentials for investigators and the council will decide who will facilitate investigation,” Councilwoman and Mayor-protem Tracie Threadford told AL.com.

Rickels on Friday appealed to the Jefferson County Personnel Board asking the panel to reverse the city’s action.

“The city council and the mayor are not properly dealing with the issue,” Scott Morro, his attorney, told AL.com. “The latest placement of Rickels on administrative leave is like putting their head in the sand.”

The Jefferson County Personnel Board gave Rickels a victory last November when it declared that the mayor had improperly dismissed him by not formally notifying the city council.

Years of political acrimony between the mayor and council have left the town of 6,000 people bitterly divided.

Tarrant currently has two fire chiefs, Rickels and Patrick Bennett, who replaced him.

Rickels had previously agreed not to return to the fire station if the city settled and paid him back pay and legal fees.

The cash under discussion accounts for Rickels’ missed wages going back nearly four years since he was fired by Newton in 2021.

However, talks eroded last month after a raucous exchange between Mayor Newton and members of the city council during a closed-door executive session.

Rickels then began coming to work and asserting his disputed role as fire chief. Morro said two fire chiefs are cooperating.

“He has been cooperating in trying not to be a thorn in the side of the operation of the fire department,” Morro said. “As a matter of fact, they get along great.”

The Personnel Board will hear Rickels’ appeal at a hearing June 3.

“We are exhausting all administrative remedies. That is a precursor to filing lawsuits which we really don’t want to do,” said Morro.

Morro has represented several employees, including police chief Wendell Major, in employment disputes against Newton and the city.

“Multiple clients don’t want to do it because they love the city of Tarrant, but the city council and mayor are forcing the hand of the employees to take more drastic action,” Morro said.

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