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Owosso firefighters speak out against administration
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Tuesday, June 21, 2005 10:45 AM EDT
Argus-Press Photo/Sarah Bazzetta PAUL DINKINS, a former Jacksonville, Fla. firefighter, describes Owosso firefighters' "adverse working conditions" during the regular city council meeting Monday night.
Several city of Owosso firefighters lashed out Monday night at the city council for what they say was lenient treatment toward deputy director Charlie Schaufele following a 30-day paid administrative leave amid allegations Schaufele berated and intimidated his staff.
"This was just a slap on the wrist," said Ben Butcher, president of the firefighters' union. "To think a 19-year veteran is fired the same day someone like (Schaufele) comes back is embarrassing."
Though Schaufele reportedly received several sanctions in addition to the 30-day leave, none were disclosed during the meeting.
Butcher and several other firefighters referred to the termination Friday of Bill West, one of the 18 full-time firefighters - the entire staff - who lodged the complaint against Schaufele in May.
Butcher said West did not provide a doctor's note following three days of absences, as is department policy.
"To let a 19-year veteran go for seeking medical attention for the stress this ordeal has caused him just doesn't add up," Butcher said.
Schaufele was placed on paid administrative leave one month ago as Owosso Director of Public Safety Michael Compeau investigated complaints by firefighters that Schaufele had verbally abused them between Nov. 4, 2002 and April 29, 2005. A letter accompanied the formal complaint filed in mid-May, signed by all 18 full-time firefighters.
Schaufele returned to work Monday but was not present for the evening's regularly scheduled city council meeting, which featured an audience packed with Owosso firefighters.
"In 10 years, never had I had to deal with more disgraceful and disrespectful comments," said firefighter Dean Butler. "(Compeau and Schaufele) used intimidation and threats, and those tactics build a wall among the fire department."
Only three of the many firefighters present spoke to the city council during the citizens' comments portion of the meeting.
One of the more impassioned speeches came from Paul Dinkins, an Owosso resident and veteran of the Jacksonville, Fla. fire department.
"Do you know your firefighters?" Dinkins incredulously asked a mute city council before praising the Owosso Fire Department as the "finest bunch of men you could ever find," despite what he said to be, "some of the most adverse working conditions I have ever seen."
Several of the firefighters present listened solemnly and nodded their heads as Dinkins spoke out against what he called "inadequate leadership" by Schaufele and Compeau that is causing the department to become "demoralized."
"They have come to you for help," Dinkins said. "But even despite all this, this group should be compared to a Timex watch - it takes a licking and keeps on ticking."
Dinkins' comments were originally cut short about one-third of the way into his speech, falling outside the city council's four-minute limit. At the end of all citizens' comments, councilman Charles Sumrack asked mayor Jack Davis if Dinkins could finish his speech.
"He already had his four minutes," Davis responded before allowing Dinkins to continue with his nearly 10-minute speech.
Dinkins' voice cracked as he described "a heroic fire department" forced to deal with "a chief yelling" and intimidating the staff.
"It sounds like corruption, not leadership, to me," said Dinkins as a smattering of applause erupted from the audience.
Butcher also noted the firefighters were disappointed Compeau was placed in charge of the investigation and implored the council to hire an outside source to conduct a second investigation into Schaufele's conduct.
"I don't believe it's necessary," said city manager Gregg Guetschow when Sumrack asked how the council could arrange a second investigation. "We get this kind of request often with disputes like this."
Although Guetschow agreed to look into arranging a way for the city council to look into the means of Compeau's investigation, he also noted he was disappointed in the comments from the firefighters.
"We have been accused of corruption and a cover-up tonight," Guetschow said. "Neither is true, and I'm very offended."
Owosso resident Burton Fox also agreed a second investigation may be necessary.
"We get a consultant to help us decide where a business should go downtown, and I think this issue is big enough and important enough for an outside source," Fox said during the citizens' comments period at the end of the meeting. "If the firefighters are wrong, it needs to be corrected. If command is wrong in this case, then we need to be aware of that and fix it."
Former city councilman Richard Crutts agreed an outside investigation is warranted, but questioned the firefighters' motives.
"I've known Charlie since I was 4, and I'm offended by some of the things that have been said tonight," said Crutts. "He ran for Mr. Owosso and a lot of you helped in his campaign. If this was going on then, why did you help him run? I doubt he has changed that much since moving into this new position (of deputy fire chief in June 2004)."
Guetschow will present his findings to the city council during the next meeting to determine if more time should be spent looking into Compeau's investigation of Schaufele.
