HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-22-2006 Fire Department Disciplinary Actions UT g�
U n
W MAC
Citv of South Bend
News Release
Wednesday,March 22, 2006
Contact: Tom Bodnar, City Attorney, 574-235-9241
Chief Luther Taylor, 574-235-9255
Fire Department Disciplinary Actions
At today's Board of Safety meeting, the South Bend Fire Department
recommended that Captain James Burkus be place on administrative leave without pay,
effective immediately, as a result of misdemeanor charges filed against Burkus on March
20 in Marshall County. The Board approved the recommendation effective immediately.
On March 15, Burkus was stopped for speeding and for operating a vehicle while
intoxicated. Burkus was not on duty at the time and was driving his personal vehicle.
All media related inquiries regarding the criminal charges should be made to the Marshall
County Prosecutors Office.
In accordance with the Departmental policy and past practices, no formal charges
will be filed with the Board of Safety until the criminal case is completed and closed. At
that time, consideration of further disciplinary action will made.
This afternoon, the City also received notification that Capt. Jim Gadacz has also
been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Gadacz was involved in a
single-car accident on February 22, 2006 in Elkhart County. Gadacz also was off-duty
and driving his personal vehicle.
-more-
Having received official notification of the charges, today, Chief Taylor will also
request that the Board of Safety approve an administrative leave, without pay, for Capt.
Gadacz, at their next meeting.
The Fire Department is also aware of a third case of an Off-Duty Firefighter in his
personal vehicle being stopped, in St. Joseph County, for possibly operating a vehicle
while intoxicated. However, the Department is not aware of any charges having been
filed at this time.
Chief Taylor, in responding to these incidents said, "first and foremost, I want to
apologize to the citizens of our community and to Mayor Luecke for the actions of these
three members of the South Bend Fire Department." "Each of them has been a reliable
and dependable firefighter for nearly 30 years and I have been proud to work along side
of them. Unfortunately, this has become to common a problem, not just at the Fire
Department, but throughout the country, in many fields of work. Driving while
intoxicated is a serious offense. We will discipline these employees and seek ways to
prevent further violations of this nature." Taylor also indicated that"at Mayor Luecke's
request we have begun to review our policies and procedures for educating our
employees regarding important health and safety issues and employee assistance
programs available to them." Procedures for on-duty discipline for city employees are
clear. Mayor Luecke has asked the City Attorney to review additional options the City
may have, as an employer, to counsel, discipline, and discourage destructive behavior of
its employees while off-duty.