CHIEF WANTS JOB BACK
He was ‘blind-sided’ with threats and did not leave voluntarily, he says.
BOCA RATON — Former Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Chief Jeffrey Collins, who resigned in the aftermath of sexual harassment and retaliation complaints that have rocked the department, said Friday he wants his job back.
During a 22-minute press conference at the law offices of his attorneys in Boca Raton, Collins, a 21-year veteran of the department, said County Administrator Verdenia Baker forced him out as “a pretext to further a political agenda.”
Collins did not elaborate on what that agenda is or why Baker would move against him to further it. His lawyers said they are considering Collins’ legal options.
“Last Friday, I was threatened and forced to submit my resignation to Palm Beach County Administrator Verdenia Baker,” Collins said. “To be clear, I did not voluntarily leave my position as the fire chief. I love my job. I love serving, and I love protecting the public.”
Collins, who rescinded his resignation on Monday, said Baker “blind-sided” him with threats of being fired with a blemish on his record if he did not resign.
Baker disputed Collins’ claim that she forced him out because of a political agenda.
“There is no political agenda,” she told The Palm Beach Post, adding that “due to pending litigation, I have no further comments.”
After accepting Collins’ resignation, Baker named Michael
Mackey, a deputy chief under Collins, as interim chief. The 49-year old Mackey, a three-decade veteran of the department, is 14 months from retirement and is not a candidate for the permanent job.
He is expected to help Baker in the search for a permanent chief.
The Post reported in December that Fire Rescue Capt. Amanda Vomero has filed suit against the department and the county, alleging that Division Chief Chris Hoch repeated sexual rumors about her and retaliated against her when she complained. That news story also noted a lawsuit filed by Vomero’s supervisor, Division Chief Joey Cooper, who alleged that Collins retaliated against him after he testified on Vomero’s behalf in an internal investigation of her complaint and after he attempted to investigate a complaint of sexual harassment made against Hoch by another female firefighter.
Hoch was given a written reprimand last year for violating county rules against harassment and retaliation in the workplace. He has denied all of the allegations against him.
An internal review of Vomero’s allegations determined that a hostile work environment exists at Fire Rescue.
Pausing at times to collect himself as his lawyers looked on, Collins described the circumstances last week that led to his resignation, including an encounter with Mackey at the Weisman Government Center.
Both had been summoned to meet with Baker and other county executives — but for very different reasons.
“Mike Mackey was downstairs waiting to be named the interim chief when I ran into him, and he was buying a cup of coffee,” Collins said. “So, no matter what I said or did, it was clear that Ms. Baker had already made up her mind. I was never given the opportunity to speak to legal counsel or given any explanation for effectively terminating me. But later that same day, I learned that my resignation was being tied to some very serious and recent allegations of sexual harassment.”
Collins, who said he was “shocked” to learn Baker wanted him to resign, defended his handling of sexual harassment allegations. He criticized the investigations of those allegations, saying more people should have been interviewed and that he did not oversee those investigations.
An unsigned letter sent to Baker and county commissioners from “The Anonymous Women of Palm Beach County Fire Rescue” claimed that Collins and other male executives covered for each other and did not aggressively pursue complaints.
“You will find, through time, that these allegations are false,” Collins said. “It is my position that my termination was used only as a pretext to further a political agenda. I have personally terminated and disciplined several employees throughout my career because of sexual harassment. I have a zero tolerance for such (reprehensible) behavior. I have an impeccable personnel file and am well-qualified to carry out the duties of Fire Rescue (chief ).”
Collins’ claims of improper treatment center on his contention that, as a firefighter, he is not an at-will employee who can be terminated without cause.
Unionized firefighters have some employment protections, but Fire Rescue’s top executives — its chief, deputy chiefs and division chiefs — are considered at-will employees, county officials said.
One of Collins’ lawyers, Sarah Cabarcas-Osman, said Baker “has an agenda to remove people unfairly for her own benefit.”
Baker, Cabarcas-Osman said, “recklessly coerced Chief Jeffrey Collins, a public servant for over 20 years, into resignation by blatantly violating the Florida Firefighters Bill of Rights and Chief Collins’ right to procedural due process. Ms. Baker wrongfully and blatantly abandoned protocol and effectively terminated Chief Collins by giving him no other options.”
Three commissioners — Paulette Burdick, Dave Kerner and Melissa McKinlay — said they do not believe Baker overstepped her authority.
Collins said he does not know if Hoch has been disciplined further.
“I have been banned from any county property,” he said, citing written communication he received from Assistant County Administrator Nancy Bolton, who oversees Fire Rescue. “I can’t go play golf, according to this, at Okeeheelee Park.”
Through a records request, The Post obtained a text message from Bolton to Collins sent Monday.
“This will confirm our conversation Friday evening, advising you that you are on paid administrative leave through Friday, January 19th,” the text message read. “Do not report to headquarters tomorrow, or any other county facility unless you are directed to do so by Ms. Baker or me.”
Repeatedly describing Mackey as the “acting” Fire Rescue administrator or chief, Collins said he has been treated unfairly.
“He’s the acting county (Fire Rescue) administrator,” Collins said. “The right person for the job stands before you. That’s my opinion. I had no reason to be terminated or asked for my termination. I want my job back. I did nothing wrong.”