Local Radar

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Five County Line firefighters voice objections to terminations

web posted July 3, 2007
COUNTY LINE – The County Line Fire Department and Fire Board held a mandatory attendance meeting Monday night that turned into a terse discussion when five firefighters addressed the Fire Board about receiving termination letters in the mail from County Line Fire Chief Tim Malcom. Former Lt. Gerry Stevens spoke on behalf of the firefighters and brought forward several issues and stated the firefighters were being released, “for telling the truth.”

Stevens, who was the Firefighter of the Year for County Line Fire Department in 2006, said he did not understand how he could be sent a termination letter that did not state a reason for the release. Chief Malcom said that Mr. Stevens had resigned before the letter was sent. “That was just to make it official,” Malcom said. “If I resigned why do you need to fire me,” Stevens asked. He stated he resigned the position as lieutenant, not as a firefighter. 

The matter was an ongoing point of contention during the meeting as Mr. Stevens brought out several things he considered to be irregularities within the department. Stevens said that one of the current firemen has an arrest record and an order of protection against him and he was still on the department. Stevens said that all firemen must undergo a background check prior to being put on active duty. “He (the firefighter) served 30-days in jail,” Stevens said.

Stevens went on to allege that Chief Malcom knew of the arrest and conviction and did nothing. The firefighter in question spoke up saying the matter of his arrest was private and could not be discussed. Michael Butts, one of the terminated firefighters, countered that the arrest and conviction was public record. “It’s on the internet,” Butts said.

Among other issues brought forward was that two current firemen live outside of the county. Chief Malcom did state during the meeting that firefighters have to live in the district, but when confronted with the two current firefighters names that lived in Aiken County he backtracked and stated the firefighters have to live within seven miles of the station.

This was questionable as one fireman that just recently left the department lived in Trenton.

Mr. Stevens went on to ask why Chief Malcom did not prosecute the theft of $370 after the discovery was made. Stevens named the individual found to be responsible but there was no reply as to why charges were not pursued by the board for the theft of public funds.

As the accusations continued to be aired, the discussion at times became loud and involved some of the firefighters present and had to be squelched by Fire Board member Tracy Freeman.

This came to a head when former Lt. Stevens accused, whom he called Chief Malcom’s “right hand man” of saying, “If you ever caught me in a burning building, if we went in together, that you’d leave me behind.” The fireman shot back that he would never leave anyone behind and never made the statement. A woman in the audience, who is a past Fire Board member, confirmed that she overheard the statement being made in the presence of others.

As the meeting drew forward Chief Malcom stated that the terminated firefighters had already applied to the Belvedere Fire Department and he wished them “good luck” at the department. The dismissed firefighters began denying Malcom’s claim outright. “None of us,” Mr. Butts said, “have ever applied to Belvedere.” Stevens then produced his cell phone and asked Chief Malcom to call the Belvedere Fire Chief to substantiate his claim. Malcom refused the offer.

Stevens said several of the firefighters attended a recent training at the Belvedere exercise to keep their certifications. The practice of training across district or county lines is commonplace as certifications are statewide, not local.  

In the end Chief Malcom stated that all firefighters served at his pleasure and he did not need a reason to fire anyone. Malcom said he thought the terminations were “for the good of my department” and that his decision stood. The Fire Board did not intercede in the decision. Some are questioning if the “at will” clause only applies to elected officials, not an appointed Fire Chief. That point was never clarified when the claim was made.

Kenneth Griffin, who is black and stated he ran afoul of the law while in high school and had to serve community service at the County Line Fire Department, said after the meeting he was there to support Lt. Stevens. “When I made a mistake they (Mr. Steven’s and his wife) took me in. They didn’t see color or anything. He’s a good man,” Griffin said. “What they (the Fire Board) are doing is wrong.” Mr. Griffin stated that his life was changed by the encounter with Lt. Stevens during his community service at the department. “He’s the only one I ever saw down here,” Griffin said.

Chief Malcom stated that he and the department were thankful for Mr. Stevens’ and the other firefighters’ service and the decision to release them did not reflect any ill will towards any of them on his behalf.

Before the meeting ended Mr. Stevens and Mr. Butts stated they wanted to be added to the Fire Board. Board member Joe Roswech said the meeting was adjourned and the consideration to the board would be considered at the next meeting. Mr. Stevens and Mr. Butts contended the meeting had not been adjourned and wanted to hear the response to their wishes to be on the board.

The Fire Board again stated the meeting had ended, though no motion to that effect was made nor voted on, and stated the requests would be considered at a later date.

The only good news received at the meeting was a check presented to the County Line Fire Department’s “truck fund” for $206.55 by Tracy McGowen and Kim Hardy of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. This was in addition to a collection previously collected and presented to Chief Malcom for $177.33.

Chief Malcom graciously accepted the donations.

After the meeting concluded former Lt. Stevens said, “That’s the good old boy system at work,” referring to a quorum of the fire board and firefighters still meeting inside the department building. “You can quote me on that,” Stevens said. “This isn’t over.”

The terminated firefighters are Lt. Gerry Stevens, Michale Stevens, Michael Butts, Dawn Butts, and Brad Pritchett.

County Line Fire Board members present were Chuck Etterle, Tracy Freeman, Joe Roswech, Fire Chief Tim Malcom, and his wife Sherry Malcom. Not present for the meeting was Fire Board member Henry Williams Jr.

No vote was held by the Fire Board to uphold the termination of employment in response to the grievances submitted.

EdgefieldDaily.com would also like to note that at one point in the meeting Chief Malcom was accused of presenting e-mails that were said to have come from EdgefieldDaily.com. Editor and Publisher Roy Blackwell interjected that no e-mails sent to EdgefieldDaily.com are ever shared to any outside entity. Chief Malcom denied ever making the accusations though Stevens and Butts stated the claimed e-mails were presented during a previous meeting.

Chief Malcom denied he ever recieved or claimed any such communication from EdgefieldDaily.com.

EdgefieldDaily.com does not reveal e-mails from readers to any outside entity.
 

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