Reno Fire Department gives in & pays for EMS training aboard Mexican cruise ship
After first refusing to reimburse two firefighters for EMS training they attended aboard a Mexican cruise ship, the Reno Fire Department is giving in. Reno officials tell Anjeneatte Damon of the Reno Journal-Gazette that because the training had been approved by a supervisor it was unlikely the city would prevail in an arbitration. The two firefighters will receive $1200 each, which is the annual limit on training expenses.
Damon, who also blew the whistle on the department’s unusual drug and alcohol policy, first reported on the cruise ship training back in May. It was noted that Reno was reimbursing firefighters for this and similar out of town training junkets at the same time they were announcing the layoffs of 35 firefighters.
“Because this had been pre-approved by the battalion chief, we felt an arbitrator would have ruled in favor of the (firefighters union) and we agreed to settle the matter in the most cost-effective manner possible,” said Finance Director Robert Chisel.
A Reno Gazette-Journal review of fire department training expenses found the city had been sending firefighters away for training at tourist destinations despite the fact the same training was available locally. The Mexican Riviera cruise, for instance, had been advertised to firefighters by department management.
