Report: Florida firefighters union 'saved up' complaints against chiefs

  • Source: Ft. Walton Beach: Northwest Florida News
  • Published: 09/19/2016 12:00 AM

A report released Thursday calls into question complaints lodged against Ocean City-Wright Fire Chief Billy Lord and Deputy Chief Scott Funchess. It states there is evidence that firefighter union members “saved up” allegations “in order to present a more damaging case,” against the two men. The complaints were at the root of the fire district’s commissioners’ decision Wednesday to suspend Lord for 45 days without pay and suspend Funchess for 30 days without pay. After five complaints were lodged in June against Lord and Funchess, Ocean City-Wright’s fire commissioners requested an investigation be conducted. Tallahassee attorney Mark Bonfanti compiled the report. It states that while “the most convenient resolution” to the complaints “might be to simply terminate Chief Lord and Deputy Chief Funchess,” that action is not in the fire district’s best interest.



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