An Iowa state senator and firefighter is resigning from both positions as controversy between Cedar Falls and the firefighter’s union heats up.
Jeff Danielson, D-Cedar Falls, made the announcement Thursday during an interview with television station KWWL, citing the city’s Public Safety Officer program as his reason. In a letter, Danielson said his resignation would take effect immediately. He will be the eighth firefighter to resign since September.
Danielson was in his fourth term in the Iowa Senate and was vice president of the Cedar Falls’ firefighter’s union. Last month, KCCI interviewed Danielson about a controversial policy that cross-trains firefighters and police officers to carry weapons and perform rescue work.
"You're giving them a false sense of security that they can enter the scenes because they somehow have a gun now and can do something about it," Danielson said at the time.