Fire chief reprimanded for mishandling case

BY CHUCK WILLIAMS - chwilliams@ledger-enquirer.com --

After more than five months of investigation into the Columbus Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, Mayor Jim Wetherington has decided to issue a written reprimand to Chief Jeff Meyer.

Wetherington called for the investigation in mid-December after it was reported by the Ledger-Enquirer that an on-duty firefighter Zachary Allen, the son of Councilor Gary Allen, tested positive for cocaine in a post-accident drug test. Allen resigned the day after the November 2006 wreck.

The investigation found that allegations that Allen received preferential treatment because of who his father was were "unfounded," Wetherington said Friday morning at a news conference in his office.

There was no recommendation for any actions made in the report, which was complied by the Columbus Police Department's Office of Professional Standards.

Wetherington said he considered termination and suspension of Meyer because of a rash of issues in the department, but ultimately decided on the reprimand.

"I still got confidence in him," Wetherington said.

The executive summary delivered to Wetherington this week was more than 60 pages. The entire report, which includes transcripts of 57 interviews, was 11 volumes.

One of the issues was a letter of recommendation Allen used to apply for a firefighter's job in LaGrange, Ga., three months after the wreck.

In Allen's LaGrange application package, the letter of recommendation apparently from Deputy Chief David Starling, who knew of Allen's positive drug test and suspension the night it happened.

The investigation determined that Starling was "deceptive" in his interview with investigators. He was given a lie detector test.

Any personnel action taken against Starling will be up to Meyer, Wetherington said.

Meyer did not attend the news conference, but he did meet with Wetherington and City Manager Isaiah Hugley prior to the news conference.

The police department, Fire and EMS and the city's Risk Management Department all investigated the Nov. 28, 2006, wreck in which LaLinriafaye Wilson was injured. Wilson's attorney, Ben Philips, threatened a $2 million lawsuit against the city. The first report of Allen's wreck surfaced Dec. 9, 2007 when Philips and the city were in settlement talks. Columbus Council held a closed session in November 2007 to discuss a possible settlement with Wilson. Gary Allen did not participate in that meeting.

Zachary Allen was never charged by police, and the document showing the positive drug test was never sent to the police.

Allen tested positive for cocaine an hour and 15 minutes after the wreck. An initial internal report by the Fire and EMS stated that Allen's drug and alcohol test results were negative. That report was later amended and Fire and EMS Sgt. Monica Carstarphen, who conducted the internal investigation, was counseled by Chief Jeff Meyer for putting unverifiable information on a report. She admitted she assumed the drug test was negative.

The second report on file with the city's risk management office stated Allen was taken for a drug test, but it did not include reveal the results. Philips, the attorney representing the injured woman, and Carstarphen said they did not know of the positive drug test until they were informed by a reporter.

 

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