The two Pensacola Fire Department chiefs placed on administrative leave earlier this week are not the focus of an investigation into the fire department, though it remains unclear what that focus is or how long the investigation might last.
Local attorney Russell VanSickle of the Beggs & Lane law firm has been hired to perform the investigation, and interim Fire Chief Matt Schmitt and Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Glover will remain on paid administrative leave until the investigation in concluded.
Schmitt and Glover were placed on leave Tuesday during a meeting with Assistant City Administrator Keith Wilkins and and Human Resources Manager Tracy Walsh. Neither man was told what was being investigated or why they were being placed on leave, Glover said. The keys to the city vehicles the firefighters used to get to the meeting were taken, as were ID badges, and city cell phones. Earlier this week, Glover said the unexpected action had tarnished his reputation and stressed his family.
"I can only speculate why," Glover said. "I can say that it's not criminal, I know that, even though I was treated like one."