No surprise – DC mayor stands by fire chief & deputy mayor
Mayor Vincent Gray and Deputy Mayor Paul Quander answer questions about Mills case and DC Fire & EMS Department beginning at 20:00 in video above.
Councilmember Wells calls for resignation of Quander & Ellerbe
Read Statter report on Quander report
Read Quander report on Mills Case
At a meeting with reporters today, DC Mayor Vincent Gray announced that he read both the report into the death of Cecil Mills by Deputy Mayor Paul Quander and expert analysis of that report by famed fire/EMS web publisher and legendary TV correspondent Dave Statter. Gray made the determination the Quander report is a sham and failed to honestly and objectively look at the department’s issues that lead to this tragedy. Gray said he believes the best way to honor the memory of Mr. Mills is by providing leadership that understands how to run a modern fire and EMS agency. For that reason, Gray immediately dismissed Paul Quander. Mayor Gray also followed the advice of Ms. Marie Mills and fired DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Kenneth Ellerbe. In addition, Mayor Gray personally thanked Mr. Statter for his service to the Nation’s Capital’s citizens and visitors, presented him with the key to the city and a fire engine that once was destined for Sosua in the Dominican Republic.
Okay, now that I’ve told you what should have happened, you can find out what really happened starting at 20:00 in the video above and the story below.
AP’s Ben Nuckols via The Washington Times:
District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray is standing by his fire chief and deputy mayor for public safety amid calls for their resignation.
Gray said Wednesday that the department is moving in the right direction under Chief Kenneth Ellerbe and Deputy Mayor Paul Quander.
On Wednesday, Gray praised Quander’s report on that incident, which called for the firefighters and four call center employees to be disciplined. And he says Ellerbe is reforming the department, in part by hiring more district residents.
