Wheat Ridge Fire Chief Resigns
WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (CBS4)- Wheat Ridge Fire Chief Steven Gillespie is resigning from his department, three weeks after three other fire administrators resigned en masse in a protest over his leadership.
Jerry Cassel, President of the five member board of directors for the Wheat Ridge Fire Protection District, told CBS4 the board voted 4-1 to allow Gillespie to separate from the department. Cassel said Gillespie cited "tension and morale and that separating was in my best interests."
Cassel said Gillespie is on paid administrative leave pending board acceptance of a separation letter from Gillespie which should come next week.
Earlier in September, three veteran administrators resigned from the department in a show of frustration and unhappiness over Gillespie's leadership.
Wheat Ridge has 33 paid firefighters and a dozen volunteers.
Cassel said the department would likely seek an outside Chief to replace Gillespie. CBS4 attempted to contact Chief Gillespie by phone Thursday afternoon but he did not answer.
- Written by Brian Maass for CBSDenver.com
