Friday, December 30, 2011
Two former officers claim they were fired even as they were considered to replace the district's retiring Chief.
In a lawsuit filed this week in St. Louis County circuit court, three former officers of the Monarch Fire Protection District claim they were denied due process when they were removed last month in the wake of a sex discrimination lawsuit verdict which came back against the District in appellate court. Leslie Crews and Cary Spiegel said in the filing that they were told they were being dismissed because of that verdict, while Michael Davis said he was given no explanation. The complaint states that the case served as "a mere pretext and excuse," and that real reason stemmed from union interests in gaining control over the district. The trio said they were entitled to dismissal proceedings and an opportunity to clear their names in a …
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Two battalion chiefs, a deputy chief and an assistant chief will not be replaced.
The President of the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors says service will not suffer despite the board's move Tuesday to remove four senior officers. The officers included two battalion chiefs, a deputy chief and an assistant chief who were identified in an employment discrimination lawsuit against the district which was upheld earlier this month in a state appeals court. The verdict, which includes $200,000 payments to a pair of plaintiffs in the case, will mean more than $1.5 million in total costs, including attorney fees. Board President Kim Evans said a total of five officers were identified through the suit. One was given the option of a reduction in rank to keep his job and accepted. Four others were given the …
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
KSDK TV reports the fire protection district will address Saturday's board decision following recent appeals court ruling against the agency.
What really happened this weekend when four Monarch Fire Protection District officers were allegedly voted on to be dismissed from the district, as reported Monday by one of the district's three board members as well as the watchdog organization Monarch Concerned Taxpayers? "At this time I am not at liberty to answer that question. District policy does not allow any employee of Monarch or elected official to comment on personnel matters," Monarch Fire Protection District Board President Kim Evans told Patch in an email Monday afternoon. "I can tell you that this board is committed to a non-discriminatory workplace." Evans then issued a news release Monday afternoon. It stated the following: In 2007 several female employees of the Monarch …
