Ind. Firefighter on Leave After Two DWI Arrests

March 28--The Board of Public Safety placed Bloomington firefighter James Parrott on administrative leave without pay during a special session of the board Wednesday afternoon. More than a dozen firefighters packed City Hall's Hooker Conference Room, some standing as there were not enough chairs, to learn the outcome of his future with the department.

Parrott, 49, of Ellettsville, has been arrested twice in three weeks on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. After his first arrest by Indiana State Police on Feb. 28, Parrott was charged March 1 with endangerment and operating a vehicle while intoxicated after registering .14 percent on a breath alcohol test. The board, at the recommendation of Bloomington Fire Chief Roger Kerr, voted to reassign his duties from rescue technician to firefighter in early March. In his second arrest, by a Monroe County deputy on March 18, police report Parrott had a blood alcohol content of .16 percent. He was charged the following day with operating a vehicle while intoxicated with endangerment.

The board had to vote twice to come to a majority decision about Parrott's administrative leave. Board member Bill Vance first moved to place Parrott on administrative leave with pay, and member John Whikehart seconded that motion. Whikehart said Parrott has not been convicted and to deny him pay is "tantamount" to finding him guilty.

Board chairwoman Betsy Walsh disagreed: "I am not convinced that it would make sense to put him back in the fire department. I am hesitant to have him paid while he is off work."

The plan for leave with pay failed 2 to 3, with Walsh, vice chairman Jim Sims and member Michael Huerta voting against.

Sims' motion to place Parrott on administrative leave without pay passed 3 to 2 with Huerta and Walsh voting in favor.

Parrott's leave is in effect until the criminal cases pending against him are resolved in Monroe County Circuit court. At that time, the board can consider possible disciplinary measures. Parrott can appeal the board's decision.

Although he will not be paid during his leave, Parrott will have access to his health benefits. Parrott's projected base salary for 2012 was close to $51,000, according to The Herald-Times salary database.

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