Another investigation into surplus DC engine & ambulance donation to the Dominican Republic
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Surplus Property and Rulemaking Investigation Authorization Resolution
Read press release announcing the City Council investigation
New developments today in the ongoing saga of the surplus DC Fire & EMS Department engine and ambulance that almost made it to Sosua in the Dominican Republic. Two council members have launched a joint investigation into the emergency rule authorized by city officials that allowed the donation to be made through the non-profit organization Peaceoholics.
Council members Mary Cheh and Phil Mendelson have received subpoena authority from the committees they chair and will conduct the investigation jointly. The pair previously requested city travel documents to determine who besides a deputy fire chief traveled to Sosua as part of this deal.
In a press release announcing the investigation Cheh and Mendelson cite a lack of cooperation by witnesses from Mayor Adrian Fenty’s administration, a report from DC Attorney General Peter Nickles they claim has “factual inconsistencies” and “the peculiar lack of candor on the part of the Executive”.
We have contacted a spokesperson for the Fenty administration seeking comment about the action by the two council members.
An inspector general investigation is also underway.
Below is the part of the resolution authorizing the investigation that refers to the testimony by DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Dennis Rubin and Assistant Chief Alfred Jeffery:
On April 1, 2009, Councilmember Phil Mendelson, Chairperson of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, held a hearing in which he questioned FEMS Chief Denis Rubin regarding the agency’s knowledge of and/or role in the disposition of the fire engine and ambulance. Chief Rubin testified at that hearing that hewas only made aware of the disposition of the FEMS property and Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Gill’s travel associated with the disposition within a few days preceding the April 1st hearing. Assistant Fire Chief Alfred Jeffery testified that he signed off on the travel for Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Gill to the Dominican Republic. Assistant Chief Jeffery stated that he was aware of the purpose of Ronald Gill’s travel, but did not ask any questions or request supporting documentation for the trip. Assistant Chief Jeffery testified that he believed the travel and donation was connected with a “program” for the disposition of such property that existed prior to both his and the Chief’s joining FEMS. No other details of this program were known or provided to FEMS, and no further questions were asked by FEMS. FEMS testified that this program was supported by the Mayor. FEMS Chief Rubin further testified that the fire engine had approximately 197,000 miles and that the ambulance had more than 100,000 miles, and that both vehicles were of little to no value. Subsequent to that hearing, Chairperson Mendelson discovered that the actual mileage on the fire engine was only 55,290 miles. The actual mileage on the ambulance was 106,696 miles.
