Trouble in paradise: Hawaii chief suspends two battalion chiefs who spoke out about mismanagement
In Hawaii, Big Island Fire Chief Darren Rosario is making news for suspending two battalion chiefs who voiced complaints about Rosario’s management of the department. Thanks to David Tworkowski for sending this.
Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL
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They’ve been on paid leave for four months — and now are under investigation themselves for speaking out.
“He surrounds himself with a bunch of people that can’t do the job in my opinion and it’s dangerous,” said West Hawaii Battalion Chief Steve Loyola. “Public safety is affected by the people running the department now.”
After the two men sent letters of “no confidence” against him to the Hawaii County Fire Commission and Mayor Billy Kenoi, Rosario suspended them both with pay just before Thanksgiving and hired a private investigator to see if they violated rules that say employees should not publicly criticize the fire department “with reckless disregard for the truth.”
“It’s just sad that it’s occurring,” Rosario said. “But we took the approach that, you know what, we’re going to investigate it then. If you’re going to make the accusations, we’re going to investigate it then, and show the people that the accusations is unfounded.
