Nevada State Fire Marshal Fired After DUI Arrest

Elko Daily Free Press, Nev.

(TNS)

SPARKS — The Nevada Department of Public Safety has terminated the employment of State Fire Marshal Chief Joseph Rodriguez.

Rodriguez's dismissal on Wednesday comes days after his arrest on charges he was driving drunk on Feb. 21 in Washoe County.

Rodriguez serves as a member of the Sparks City Council. According to KRNV in Reno, two days after his arrest, Rodriguez appeared virtually at a Spark City Council meeting without mentioning his arrest.

Rodriguez was promoted from assistant state fire marshal to the top spot in October. He was still listed as state fire marshal on the state's website on Friday morning.

In the DPS announcement of his promotion in October, the agency said he began his public safety career at age 18 as a firefighter with the Bureau of Land Management and served as a volunteer firefighter in North Washoe County. He had been with the Fire Marshal Division since 2016.

His termination, according to the DPS, followed an administrative suspension, internal review and an investigation by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. The department said Rodriguez's former agency would "temporarily operate under the oversight of the DPS/State Police Investigation Division."

The DPS said it couldn't comment on the case because it involved "a personnel matter."

"The Department remains committed to professionalism, accountability and the continued delivery of services to Nevada’s communities and partner agencies," the agency said.

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