Exodus from South Metro Fire Rescue

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Report sparks exodus from South Metro Fire Rescue
By Kieran Nicholson
Denver Post Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 06/10/2007 01:14:44 AM MDT

Four key members of South Metro Fire Rescue, including the chief, have stepped down in the wake of a report that takes the district to task on several fronts.

The report - written by Emergency Services Consulting Inc. at the behest of the fire department - was gleaned from interviews with a wide range of South Metro employees and stakeholders, a survey made available to all district employees, and a review of recent internal documents.

Since the report's release in mid- April, Fire Chief Robert Rinne and deputy chiefs Dennis Wiehling and Richard McGowan have retired, and longtime board member Ray Bullock resigned.

"We've spent a lot of time talking about the report," said Andy Lyon, a district spokesman. "The decision was made that one way to address it was to see a change in leadership. That's what we have done, and the task is to restore trust in the leadership."

Under the heading of "Supervision and Leadership," the report found that "there is an observed lack of trust between the organization's administrative staff and many of the personnel. Specifically, there seems to be a lack of trust between the line personnel and the fire chief's office. This perception was communicated and articulated consistently."

Rinne, who served as chief for about six years and was with the district for 26 years, said Friday he's proud of his service and the organization.

"In the chief's role, you are asked to be a leader, and I truly believe I led the organization correctly," Rinne said.

Accomplishments under Rinne include building a new fire station in Lone Tree and completion of a new dispatch center in January 2006.

Rinne said he doesn't feel like a victim of the report, which he helped to get underway.

"How do you get to the next step? It was time for me to turn the reins over," Rinne said. "I'm very proud of our accomplishments. This organization is stellar."

In October 2005, a state audit disclosed that $1.5 million in federal homeland-security funding was misused by building a disaster-response center in South Metro's administrative building in Centennial.

Federal officials agreed with the state audit, which concluded that the emergency-response center was funded with money intended to help various local governments prepare for terrorism.

In addition, the state "did not ensure a level playing field in awarding the funds" to South Metro, federal officials concluded.

The report is critical of finance decisions made by South Metro, including the purchase of four new firetrucks costing $771,000 each, when the department's own "apparatus committee" suggested buying only one truck.

Fire Marshal Mike Dell'Orfano has been appointed acting South Metro chief.

"The level of trust in the department is not where it needs to be," Dell'Orfano said. "That is one of the biggest things. I'm trying to restore that level of trust."

South Metro covers 76 square miles in Arapahoe and Douglas counties, including the Denver Tech Center.

Its annual budget is about $29 million.

Along with its observations, the report suggested ways for the district to improve service.

The report and additional study work by the consulting firm cost about $125,000.

"It is very important the report be put in proper context," said David Heller, South Metro board chairman. He said the report is based on "human input. ... They are perceptions."