Former Olmsted Township Fire Chief John Rice has accused Fire Chief Patrick Kelly of conduct violations, and a group of residents is collecting signatures asking the township board of trustees to investigate Kelly.
Kelly, the former Cleveland fire chief who took over the small department in September, placed Rice, now assistant chief, on paid administrative leave this month.
"The bottom line is, he (Kelly) is trying to fire me because I have an appeal in," Rice said.
Rice was demoted in February following a two-day hearing in which he was accused of pushing a resident and using vulgar language at a fire scene. He appealed that decision to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and filed a complaint in September claiming harassment and retaliation.