Last week, 27 NEWSFIRST interviewed a Jessamine County volunteer firefighter who said allegations that firefighters were working after drinking were true, despite denials from within the fire board.
Monday, as the board held their monthly meeting...'one' topic dominated the discussions.
At the beginning of the meeting, the fire board elected Gary Sorrell as the new chairman. Sorrell then made his acceptance speech that included criticism of the media and of NEWSFIRST's coverage of the investigation.
Sorrell said a 27 NEWSFIRST interview with a Jessamine County volunteer firefighter called for a re-evaluation of the investigation.
The firefighter we interviewed said Fire Chief Mike Rupard was one of the firefighters being investigated for working after drinking.
Chief Rupard would not comment.
Then firefighter Steve Profitt presented a petition signed by 29 firefighters in support of Chief Rupard. There are more than 60 volunteer firefighters in the district and one of them, Pete Maupin, said no one told him about the petition.
Board Chair Sorrell said the board will look in to threats being made between firefighters in connection with the investigation, but Pete Maupin says it has happened.
After a separate meeting, closed to the media, the board then voted to re-open the investigation and hire a private investigator.
Fire Board Chair Gary Sorrell says he doesn't know when the board will hire the investigator, but would only say it would be sometime soon. He did say the board has received six different allegations involving firefighters working after drinking.
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