City stands by decision to dismiss fire captain

The City of Vernon is considering its options to further appeal a decision that ordered it to reinstate a fire captain.

The city fired the captain and a dispatcher in March 2018 after they were caught on camera having sexual relations in the fire chief’s office. The decisions was challenged by the B.C. Association of International Firefighters to an arbitration panel that ruled the firing was “excessive,” and ordered reinstatement with a disciplinary suspension.

The city’s appeal to the Labour Relations Board was turned down, but the city issued a news release Monday, saying it stands by its decision that the captain should have been fired.

“The labour board concluded that while they may have decided the case differently than the majority of the arbitration board, that was not a basis for them to overturn the decision. They concluded since the arbitration board went through the proper process, the labour board had no jurisdiction to interfere with the outcome, even if they disagreed with it,” said the city release.

The city says in the release it continues to believe its decision was the correct one.

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“Having sex in an open manner, with a subordinate, while on duty in the fire hall must be grounds for termination. We cannot tolerate a workplace environment where this type of activity is carried on by a commanding officer. While we are disappointed the labour board did not overturn the arbitration decision, they certainly did not endorse the outcome. The labour board was clearly troubled by the reinstatement, as the city continues to be. As a result, the city is currently considering its options to further appeal the reinstatement decision,” the release stated.

The following is the city’s news release on the subject: