Anonymous letter urged firing of Palm Beach Fire Rescue chief

Just days before his resignation, an anonymous letter from “the women of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue” urged county leaders to fire Chief Jeff Collins for failing to address sexual harassment in the department.

“Please do something that indicates you each recognize the basic difference between right and wrong,” the letter dated Jan. 5 read.

The letter, sent to county administrators and county commissioners, was unsigned because of a “fear of retaliation.” The letter urged county officials to ask “some of the women at Fire Rescue if they had experienced any problems with sexual harassment instead of only asking the male chiefs.”

“You will likely receive very different responses,” the letter states.

They wrote they could provide “pages of examples that exhibit the inability of Chief Jeffrey Collins to properly perform his job.”

Collins submitted his resignation on Friday effective Jan. 19, but he later tried to rescind it.

Collins’ attorney Salim A. Punjai wrote Collins was coerced and intimidated into resigning his position during a meeting with County Administrator Verdenia Baker, Assistant County Administrator Nancy Bolton and Human Resources Director Wayne Condry.

Punjai declined comment Tuesday, but he said he would speak about the matter Friday during a news conference with reporters.

County Attorney Denise Nieman said Collins is on leave this week, and she did not acknowledge Collins’ resignation had been withdrawn. She said his resignation will become effective Friday.

Baker did not return a phone message seeking comment. In a letter to commissioners, Baker wrote that Michael Mackey will serve as interim chief while a search is conducted.

Collins does not have an employment contract with the county, according to the human resources department. He earns $208,669 a year, county records show.

The resignation came as the fire rescue department is embroiled in lawsuits over allegations that it fostered a climate of sexual harassment and racism.

Two employees, Capt. Amanda Vomero and Administration Division Chief Joey Cooper, have filed lawsuits accusing administrators of failing to protect employees from harassment.

Vomero’s lawsuit alleges that Fire Rescue Division Chief Chris Hoch taunted her in the office and made inappropriate sexual comments, saying “rumor is that” she was having sex with Cooper, who is her supervisor, and that he was “a little offended” she wouldn’t have sex with him.

Hoch said Vomero liked black men and “that’s why you want to hire all these black guys,” the suit alleges. Hoch has denied the allegations against him.

Cooper accused Collins of retaliating against him for his role in investigating the harassment allegations.

sswisher@sunsentinel.com, 561-243-6634 or @SkylerSwisher