FMB Fire Board investigates fire chief but does not suspend him
Fort Myers Beach Fire Chief Mike Becker is under the microscope again, this time due to allegations by a local fire control fire fighter who claims he violated district policies. The newly arranged FMB Board of Fire Commissioners did not suspend or place Becker on administrative leave, but discussed the process of the matter as part of a heavy agenda at their first regular monthly meeting at Station #32 Tuesday evening.
On Oct. 20, 2009, Becker was placed on immediate administrative leave with pay at the board’s monthly meeting due to allegations relating to prescription drug abuse and an intimate relationship with a district employee. More than a month later, he was back on duty after the findings of an investigation by court certified mediator Roger Benson determined no wrong doing and concluding remarks stated Becker’s addiction to pain prescription medicine “should not be dealt with after the fact as misconduct.” The board determined not to pursue any further investigation, and two examinations cleared Becker to be fit for duty.
This time, the FMB Fire Board, which included two newly elected and one re-elected commissioner, placed their fire chief under an informal investigation after an emailed complaint (dated Nov. 5) by fire fighter Jen Gordon.
According to the email sent by Gordon to Capt. Ivan Bestrom (her shift commander at the time of the incident), she stated that Becker had made statements which led her to believe that Dr. Joseph Lemons would have her state paramedic license removed if she did not go through a re-credential process, and her continued employment within the district would be in jeopardy if she didn’t cooperate. After speaking with Lemons, Gordon stated she learned Becker’s statements were untrue, felt threatened and intimidated by Becker concerning her status as a district employee and believed the fire chief had violated policies concerning harassment and violence in the workplace.
The four fire commissioners (commissioner John Scanlon was reported to have an unexcused absence) unanimously approved to appoint Chairperson Carol Morris to contact FMB Fire District Labor Attorney John Hament to obtain a list of previously screened investigators, choose one and go forward on the matter.
“It’s not fair to chief or any of the other parties involved not to expedite this,” said newly elected Vice Chairman Ted Schindler, who made the required motion. “We have the short list which I think we can operate with. We’ll bite the bullet on the cost, but it’s the cost of doing business.”
Before the matter was brought up, there was an election of the fire commission board officers. Other than Schindler, Morris was re-elected to Chairperson and Commissioner David Brower was elected to Secretary/Treasurer.