VERMILION, Ohio — Four firefighters from the Vermilion Fire Department have resigned after enduring "toxic work environments," according to their resignation letters.
"I am really bummed about it," said resigned Vermilion Firefighter Kirk Horton. "This is not what none of us firefighters that resigned thought in our mind two weeks ago."
After 36 years of service to the City of Vermilion…Horton saif disrespect between Fire Chief Bill Brown and other firefighters in the department became insufferable. This resignation letter given to Vermilion City Council Monday, signed by Horton and three other former firefighters, said, "Our decision to resign is a direct result of the toxic environment that has been allowed under Chief Brown's leadership."
In their combined letter, the firefighters listed the following reasons for resigning:
- They felt they were undermined.
- Verbally and physically assaulted.
- A substandard communication process.
- Complicity in the vandalism of firefighter property.
- Sanctioned the existence of a group dedicated to harassing fellow firefighters and officers.
"Things just escalated to the point that there was no return," added Horton.
Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer said he doesn't believe the complaints have any foundation.
"Some of those things in there are so dramatic that I think I would have heard of these things if they were something I needed to be aware of," Forthofer said.
Chief Brown denies almost all the claims, except a vandalism situation where a name tag was taken off a locker, in which he says the person responsible was disciplined.
"The physical assaults that has not happened," said Brown. "There was an allegation that someone threatened someone that was disproved by one of our officers. Aside from the other allegations the gentleman had again, I think a lot of it comes with change and we've made some changes here in the last two years."
In the last two years, Mayor Forthofer said 14 firefighters have left the department but ensures public safety is not at risk.
Chief Brown ensures me there's plenty to do the responses that are necessary to keep the community safe," Forthofer said.
Mayor Forthofer has invited all four resigned firefighters into his office for exit interviews, and Horton said they are considering the offer. The Vermilion Fire Department has 22 volunteer based firefighters currently with the department.
Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer released the following statement about the resignations:
“We wish the departing four firefighters well. They have all made substantial contributions to the residents of the City of Vermilion.
Fire Chief Brown, our first full time Chief. He has my full support. He is charged with evolving the all-volunteer Vermilion Fire Department to a department positioned to meet the needs of our growing community. Significant changes are being made. The first step is creating standards and policies in the department and holding firefighters to performance levels. There has been significant measurable progress. Cultural change is not always comfortable for everyone. But it is essential to meet our community’s future safety needs.”
