Beach fire chief is under investigation: Update #2
Fort Myers Beach Fire Chief Mike Becker is under an immediate informal investigation, an action that was approved by the Board of Fire Commissioners at a special meeting at Station #31 Thursday afternoon.
For months, Chief Becker has been under fire due to allegations from the Local 1826 District 3 and 15 Union that he has proved to be inefficient as an administrator. New allegations such as prescription drug abuse and an intimate relationship with a district employee has arisen.
“I think this will take a lot of stress out of the workplace,” said Becker. “I think I can reasonably give explanations to the investigator to clear this matter up.”
Becker said the charges came from the union and an ex-employee. He would like to get back to work.
“I want to keep the focus on getting my job done,” said Becker. “We still have some pretty huge fiscal matters to resolve. We have a very important mission to accomplish. Those are the little things that need to be done today and everyday. The investigation is a distraction to all of that. I think as long as we keep the focus on the mission and the budget, we are going to be fine.”
As far as the informal investigation goes, the fire chief is confident the charges will be dropped. If the investigator sees fit to continue, the investigation will turn to a formal one.
“I honestly believe this will go away,” said Becker of the charges.
“Flip” Harby’s position as a Board of Fire Commissioner became inactive when suspended FMB Fire Board Chairman John Scanlon was reinstated by Gov. Charlie Crist this week after being exonerated from drug charges stemming from a New Year’s Eve incident.
Harby, who served as a board replacement for Scanlon until recently, believes the investigation will find “no harm done” regarding Becker. He referred to himself as a taxpayer since he no longer is a Commissioner anymore.
“I didn’t believe he has done anything wrong, and I still don’t believe he has done anything wrong,” said Harby. “If you read the charges and allegations in Exhibit 4 in the packet, you’ll see that there are accusations from a disgruntled ex-employee. There is a lot of fiction there; most, if not all. There are no reasons for Chief Becker to be dismissed.”
Harby said the original actions against Becker come from a union which has bad blood for fire chiefs in general.
“The union does not run this district,” Harby said. “It’s important that the people know that (the union) wants to. They want to take charge of this district and they are not going to. I think the union is going to do anything and everything it can to get rid of Chief Becker.”