A high-ranking Cal Fire Academy official fired during a drinking-and-sex scandal that roiled the department has lost his appeal to return to work.
Lawyers representing former Assistant Chief Mike Ramirez says he is now prepared seek a rehearing by the State Personnel Board or take the case to civil court.
“An appeal is likely,” said Ramirez attorney Jason Jasmine. Cal Fire spokesman Janet Upton said the department is “pleased” the board upheld the termination.
“The decision sends a strong message that Cal Fire employees are held to a high standard of conduct,” she said, “and we will not tolerate this type of unprofessional behavior.”
Ramirez argued for his reinstatement, claiming that his termination in January was based on honest misunderstandings, false allegations or overstatements. Some of the charges against him, his attorneys attempted to show, are the kind of behavior officials at the highest levels of Cal Fire routinely have ignored for years.