WESTMINSTER : Fire Chief: Firings Won’t Affect Service

Fire Chief John T. DeMonaco Jr. said Friday that the firings this week of several high-ranking Fire Department officials will not affect the level of services the department provides.

“There’s no effect on the department, except that people (will) have to work more overtime,” said DeMonaco. “As far as operations go, nothing has changed.”

DeMonaco said that people from within the department were “temporarily promoted” to take over the positions left vacant by the dismissals. Tests will be conducted next month to determine if the promotions will be permanent, he said.

City officials Thursday fired Fire Marshal Don Herr, Battalion Chief Hal Raphael, Capts. Mike Garrison and Joe Wilson and firefighter Dana Bowler. They were accused of violating payroll policies, and two were also accused of negligence, officials said.

They have denied any wrongdoing, and Paul Gilbrook, the president of the Westminster Firefighters Assn., said Friday that the dismissals amounted to union busting by city officials fighting a union-supported recall drive.

Gilbrook said that the firings will strengthen the efforts to recall Mayor Charles V. Smith and council members Craig Schweisinger, Charmayne S. Bohman and Tony Lam. The recall election is set for June 7.

“People know this is nothing but retribution,” said Gilbrook, who was himself fired in February. “They know that the firefighters are not crooks, and that they truly care for the citizens of Westminster.

DeMonaco said that Capt. Ron Roberts, the deputy fire marshal, will become fire marshal, and Capt. Mark Benedetti will replace Raphael as battalion chief.

DeMonaco, who was hired last August, said there are 10 vacant positions in the 63-employee department. But he said he expects to fill most of the vacancies by next month.

DeMonaco said that the management team reorganization, which calls for the hiring of an assistant chief and two division chiefs, will be completed in August.