Aurora FD Chief Placed on Leave

[jimmnn]

AURORA, Colo. -- Aurora Fire Chief Casey Jones has been placed on paid administrative leave following an investigation into misused funds and an alleged affair, the city announced Thursday.

City representatives said Jones' leave will be effective Friday.

Deputy Chief Dan Martinelli has been designated acting fire chief.

The city released no further details.

Jones was placed on leave less than one month after he was accused of misusing city resources while having an affair with a married assistant attorney.

The allegations surfaced after former city attorney Rob Werking said in his blog that his estranged wife, Julie Werking, was having an affair with Jones. Julie Werking is an assistant city attorney and legal advisor for the Fire Department.

The city's investigation looked into accusations that Jones and Julie Werking golfed on city time and that Jones bought her a Blackberry with city funds.

 

[abqscan]

Whats wrong with playing Golf on the clock???? Heck, who doesn't? =)

 

[scannerfreak]

You know, it always amazes me people who reach such a position to only throw it out the window. I don't get it..

 

[Thayne]

Because they can. What about the (male)judge that likes to take showers with a (female) DA in the courthouse?? We taxpayers are paying them--nice work if you can get it :lol:

 

[n0doz]

Yeah, baby, I want one of those jobs!!!!!!

 

[n4voxgill]

A chief is exempt from FLSA (fair labor standards act) so they do not get overtime. They make a yearly salary and get no pay for responding after hours or for the many night time meetings they attend. I spent over 30 years in such a category and played golf many times during normal working hours. There was never a week that i didn't put in more than 40 hours.

So the chief authorizes a blackberry for a city employee who is the asst city attorney assigned to his department. I'm sure that similar actions are common.

Now we get to real issue. A husband in a battle involving a divorce, creates a private blog and makes an allegation about his wife who is separated from. He says she is having an affair with the chief. I have no idea if she was or not. I sure need more than this before I would say the chief has done anything wrong.

There are a lot of wild accusations made during divorces. I just don't like to jump to conclusions.

 

[greenthumb]

The investigation by the City looks to be a bigger misuse of city funds than anything else! Gill is probably right that the chief is FLSA exempt - and probably puts in more than his fair share of what would be considered "overtime" to FLSA non-exempt employees to make up for his golf games. On the BlackBerry - if she is an advisor to the FD, why can't he use his department funds to get her a proper communications device?! And putting him on leave for having an affair...which is his personal life?! I don't know what Aurora's policies are, but if I were the chief, i'd be finding a lawyer to sue the city.

 

[n0doz]

Harper Valley PTA, Aurora - style.......!!!!

 

[datainmotion]

It appears to be more than just a Blackberry issue now...

Phone records and e-mails on a city server...ooops!

 

[n0doz]

Yep, a lack of knowlege about the IT side of things can sure come back to haunt you!

 

[jimmnn]

More Golf Time for da Chief

AURORA – The chief of the Aurora Fire Department stepped down Friday after accusations surfaced that he had an affair with a city attorney assigned to his department.

He is also accused of playing golf during work hours.

Chief Casey Jones was put on leave on April 26 while the city investigated the ethical violations.

The Aurora Fire Department announced on Friday that Jones was stepping down.

He was named to the post in 2002.

The Aurora Fire Department says Jones will help with the transition and continue on a temporary contractual basis to work on key projects.

The department says it will begin searching for a new chief immediately.

Deputy Chief Dan Martinelli is serving as acting chief.