Madison Fire Chief Suspended from City Duties
8-13-12
MADISON, FL (Aug. 13, 2012) – City of Madison Fire Chief Alfred Martin has been suspended
with pay from his duties as fire chief and as a firefighter following his arrest last week on four felony
counts of grand theft and official misconduct.
City Manager Tim Bennett met with Martin today to inform him of the suspension. The
suspension is for an indefinite period of time.
“After reviewing the details of the arrest warrant, I felt it was necessary to take this action for
the benefit of the city and the city’s firefighters,” Bennett said. “Chief Martin is presumed innocent until
proven guilty, and we need to let the judicial process take its course.”
Bennett appointed Fire Lieutenant Bruce Jordan as acting fire chief.
The city’s Rules and Regulations for Personnel allow for Martin to appeal the suspension. He
has 10 calendar days from the day of the suspension to file a written appeal to the city clerk who would
forward it to the city commission. The commission’s decision is final and binding.
John,
I now remember it was E who gave up the card to Alfred. When he was the President the first time. Alfred was making the decisions with the checks and the card. E should have never allowed him access. I guess after he left, he decided for himself to keep the card, after H asked for it. I wonder if the inspector from FDLE spoke to E about that?
A Real Fire Chief
John,
The last President, I knew was there, was H. I guess he got tired of Alfred too or did they vote him out?. Maybe Bruce can put the standard back in the volunteer department. I see J is back too or was that just an appearance inside of a house fire next to someone with a SCBA, while he had nothing on. I guess he should have not been wearing anything, since he is pretending. Never went to fire school, but old Alfred hired him anyway and paid him. Kicked him off after his arrest and showing up to a call smelling like a bar and now, I guess Alfred didn’t care about all of the charges he had. He is back at the station still pretending to be in the fire service with his red helmet.
A Real fire Chief
TDF for Life. Which President are you talking about, the past pres. H or present pres. E?
Madison Outsider,
The President of the MFR Volunteers tried to get the card from Alfred. He wouldn’t give it up. He broke many rules in that department. Paid guys voting in the volunteer meetings is just one. Alfred had his friends come into the meetings to swing the votes the way he wanted. Give them a shirt and they are volunteers. No training, no State of Florida standard, just Alfred running things his way. The wrong way.
A Real Fire Chief
John,
My point is Bruce is the only qualified person there. Fire fighter? Anyone who goes to fire school is a fire fighter. Put on a shirt and a radio, now your a fire fighter. When you start working as a volunteer or as a paid member in this business responding to calls, going to school to continue your training and know what your doing? Then you are a fireman. John, remember that car fire on range street? Took some fire fighters over a 1 minute to get water out of that engine? I know a fireman on South Horry at the end on the right, if allowed to join the department, he could have had those men water in 10 seconds. lol
Take care John,
A Real Fire Chief
To answer Madison Outsider. Alfred Martin was handling things for the volunteers. Need I say more? All of that has been turned over to the present volunteer President Erick Powell, one of Alfred’s buds.
TFD for Life. Aw come on. Fire fighter, fireman, fire chief, fire instructor, or any other fire whatever. Bruce has got it all, and I would be proud to serve under him. It does my heart good to see that there are some folks here that see things for what they are. I can finally sleep at night knowing that MFR now has a real chief that will finally get things straightened out. We can now begin to show some pride in our Department.
I have to ask who was reconciling the bank statement for this debit card for the volunteer fire department funds? The first time that debit card was mis-used it should have reported it. Seems like there need to be some checks and balances in the administration of these funds and GAP (General Accounting Practices) should be adhered to.
John,
I have always enjoy our conversation about the fire service. We agree on just about everything dealing with the business and the City of madison Fire Department.
Except Bruce Jordan being a Fire Fighter
Alfred has been there for 30 years and his mark is being a fire fighter I & II, not a chief. He has no training or an education.
Bruce Jordan facts; FF I & II, EMT, Instructor I & II, Investigator I, Live Fire Instructor I, Ispector I and Plans review I, Fire Officer I & II and a A.S Degree in Fire Science
NFPA 1021 is the professional qualification for being a Fire Department officer. Bruce is the only person there with this standard. Who else were they going to go with? No one understands this business like Bruce.
This is why I don’t agree with you about Bruce Jordan being a FIRE FIGHTER.
Bruce Jordan is a FIREMAM. I believe that is the problem with the city department. Too many fire fighters and not enough firemen.
John, take care my friend,
Bruce, Fraternally yours,
A Real Fire Chief
Thanks for the info John, you are right I did not read the entire Executive Order, as it was not very legible.
With that being said I wonder when the Governor will appoint an interim commissioner to replace him.
Thank you John….yep…it’s right there in black and white…he admitted to buying himself dinner at golden coral and Wing Stop while on vacation and not on official business with the fire depts debit card! So….if he felt THAT comfortable helping himself to city/county money, there’s no telling how long this has been going on…just now getting caught at a few:( It’s very sad to see the lack of integrity these days.
Cam. If you’ll read the article ‘Martin Suspeneded From County Commission’ and then the Exexutive Order, you’ll find where he admits to filling out receipts that were false and using Volunteer funds and not reimbersing them. It’s alot to read, so take your time.
I agree with all of you that the suspension should be without pay. Once cleared, should he be, then give him back pay for the lost time. I do not recall seeing anywhere that he has admitted guilt. Where was that published? I have read and re-read the article more than once and never saw that he admitted any guilt in what was printed. Maybe you are closer to the investigation than you should be. I also feel the Governor should go ahead and appoint an interim County Commissioner to fill the spot and could serve until his term expires.
Also great city manager
To ralph bruce jordan extra good man
@Ralph:
Both parties just do what they can…..
who is running the show the city or John Aust
OK, so I am confused. He is charged with doing illegal things while working and being paid. So what the City does as punishment is take away the work part but keep the pay part! Either work AND pay or if no work, then no pay. I agree he is innocent until proven guilty so why not work without supervisory duties and pay for that time and position? Let him stay in a firefighter position with appropriate pay for a firefighter but remove him from all supervisory positions, and that pay, until there is a court date and verdict. Something is wrong with this procedure.
Local. As I said before, he’s already admitted his guilt to FDLE. What more is there to say? Let’s pay our interim chief the money. After all, he should have been chief a long time ago.
If he has this many counts and has admitted guilt then why the heck is he getting a paid vacation? Don’t you think if it were really for the “benefit of the city” that the city can find something better to do with his pay than to let him keep it? If the city wants to play good guy then give him reduced pay during the process.
I just can’t spell today….anyway, yes I think it should be without pay also. What is the point of paying him to sit at home. I say without pay and if he is cleared in court then they can award him back pay.
Local. It looks like we may actually have a city MANAGER who can think for himself. I agree with you. We couldn’t ask for a better man than Bruce for this position. He’s not a politician. He’s a FIRE FIGHTER.
Definatly, dang auto correct
Given the fact that the Chief has admitted to many of the charges I certainly hope the commission upholds the suspension. I also feel that since he has admitted guilt already that the suspension should be without pay. Why should I as a tax payer have to support him if he’s guilty?
Excellent choice in appointing Mr Jordan, I think he will do a good job and he is defiantly the most qualified person in the department. Finally, someone chosen on merit and not the good ol’ boy system.