KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- After months of controversy, Knoxville Fire Chief Carlos Perez is announcing his retirement Friday. It's effective by April 1.
This week alone, two firefighters have filed grievances against Perez.
Fire Capt. Jamie Faucon filed a grievance against the chief and her supervisor. She accuses them of depriving her of a take-home car, of reassigning her and cutting out her overtime because she is a transgendered firefighter.
Veteran Officer Paul Dunn also filed a formal complaint to the civil service board this week, claiming the chief violated his freedom of speech and believes it's because of his age.
Related Story:Gender-Changed Tennessee Fire Captain Files Grievance Against Chief
And in 2005, a firefighter filed a complaint stating the chief didn't give him a field training position because the chief said he was "too old" for the job. In a final report to the mayor, the city found Perez made the statement and a reprimand was placed in his file.
The fire chief has also been a victim of discrimination. Perez filed a formal complaint in January, saying Assistant Fire Chief Charles Stuart called him "Pedro" in a derogatory manner. After learning of the incident, City Councilman Steve Hall apologized on the city's behalf at a council meeting.
Overtime during the chief's tenure doubled. In February, 6 News reported that in 2004, prior to Perez's arrival, the assistant chiefs earned just over $118,000 in overtime pay. In 2005, that number had ballooned to more than $219,000.
A spokesman for the fire department said this week, changes are in place to save money. One way is reducing the number of drive home cars from 18 to 14.
The department is also reducing overtime. One example is through changes in supplying stations. Crews must make sure they have enough EMS supplies to last through a weekend. Previously, if they ran out over the weekend, they would call someone in to re-supply them.
Perez began as chief in December 2004, serving for just over a year.
