The Grand Blanc Township fire chief has been placed on administrative leave just weeks after the mass shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The move against Fire Chief Jamie Jent came after he raised staffing concerns with township officials, WNEM reported.
Specifically, he was concerned the department is not adhering to NFPA 1710 recommendations for staffing and response times such as requiring the first apparatus to arrive within four minutes with four people on it 90 percent of the time.
The department was praised recently for its response to the church incident.
The Michigan Association of Fire Fighters wrote a letter supporting Jent's leadership.
Township officials are expected to discuss the issue next week.
Days after he was sidelined, Jent wrote in a statement: "I will not be coerced into illegally interfering with the Union’s federally-protected rights, including their ability to communicate with the Township Board and engage in protected concerted activities under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Implementing notification requirements for union communications would directly violate the NLRA, chill protected activity, and expose the Township to unfair labor practice charges. I cannot and will not violate federal labor law."
