One of the city's two deputy fire chiefs has chosen to retire instead of heed what he believes are improper and unethical orders from Fire Director Qareeb Bashir, a fire union president said Tuesday.
Deputy Chief Robert Tharp was promoted earlier this year at a City Hall ceremony and in just over six months as a department leader has made measurable improvements to the department, firefighters' union president Wayne Wolk said.
Now, the city's going to lose Tharp for standing up to Bashir, who wants to internally charge two firefighters in connection with years-old allegations that the city recently defended them against in the Jesse Diaz case, Wolk charged.