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County fire battalion chief fired for abusing sick leave system
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
A Clark County fire battalion chief was terminated Thursday because, according to county officials, she misused sick leave and aided others in abusing the system.
Renee Dillingham is the second county firefighter to be terminated for sick leave abuse in an internal probe that began six months ago when evidence of potential misuse came to light.
The public uproar also prompted a police and FBI inquiry, which could turn into a criminal investigation.
Dillingham, a 24-year veteran, was the first woman hired as a county battalion chief. She couldn't be reached for comment.
She has five business days to challenge her firing and request an arbitrator.
Dillingham will be allowed to collect her pension and cash in unused sick leave and vacation. No estimates were available Thursday on the dollar amount.
In May, Donald Munn was fired after managers determined he had abused sick leave. A dozen other firefighters are under internal investigation and could lose their jobs, be demoted or forfeit six months of sick time.
County Commissioner Steve Sisolak, who pushed for investigations into sick leave abuse, said the fire chief was being slow and thorough about punishing wrongdoers to ensure the actions aren't overturned on appeal.
"Hopefully the public sees we take this very seriously and are not going to let it go," Sisolak said.
He said he would like those who defrauded the public to pay restitution.
County officials have expressed doubts about whether they can compel firefighters to repay anything.
The labor contract forbids using sick leave for vacation instead of medical problems.
Firefighters' sick leave can be costly because the tight staffing often requires those who fill in for absent co-workers to be paid overtime, and usually for 24 hours.
Overtime helped push the average wage of firefighters in 2010 to $130,000 and battalion chiefs to $180,000.
Most firefighters who return to work less than 12 hours after finishing a shift -- say, to fill in for a crew member -- also qualify for callback pay, in which a portion of that day's earnings goes toward pensions.
Last year, Dillingham received $274,000 in total wages and benefits, which included $123,000 in base pay and $30,000 in callback.
Emails in 2009 indicate Dillingham broke sick leave rules.
In one email, Dillingham described making a "sick roster" for her fellow battalion chiefs to take home rather than post. The roster contained calendars in which the chiefs penciled themselves in for sick time weeks in advance.
Dillingham arranged sick leave months ahead with battalion chief Gina Geldbach-Hall, who is now retired.
"I will be taking off June 10, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 (all sick days if I can work it out ..)," Geldbach-Hall writes in an email. "Again, thanks. It is so much nicer having a scheduler I can work with."
Ryan Beaman, head of the county firefighters union, didn't reply to phone messages or emails.
In the past, Beaman has backed the county punishing those who misuse sick leave, though he also has questioned whether the county can fire or demote firefighters under the labor contract.
The contract calls for a firefighter to forfeit up to six months of sick time for flouting the rules, Beaman has said.
Commissioner Tom Collins, a strong union advocate, said managers received careful instructions on how to investigate and punish those suspected of abuse.
"I would feel pretty confident that management followed the proper steps in this action," Collins said.
It turned out to be a relative handful of culprits rather than the 230 firefighters who were initially suspected, Collins added.
Sisolak countered that managers only had hard evidence, such as emails, on a dozen or so firefighters. Law enforcement agencies have more tools for ferreting out malfeasance, he said.
"I'm hoping the feds can turn up more with their investigation," Sisolak said.
Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.
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For Rachel the mean hack: I was a real fire fighter in the Navy. On a US warship full of bombs and aviation fuel. I think I made $12,000 a year. How many of these heroes ever served in the military? That is one thing to look at. How many of these heroes would stick around for $12,000 a year? Although it was 20 years ago. I will triple the pay. $36,000. How many would stay for that? Oh yeah, I got hurt being a firefighter in the Navy. Had to leave the service. Permanently disabled, and I get $541 a MONTH.
Rachel-You clown, don't preach to me, and be impressed I was in the Gulf War. Hero. You are a POS. Figure it out.
fsb- You are splitting hairs genius. Using "me" is still proper English, but that is the best you can do. Give it up, you are over your head.
I'm not a FF but just a regular guy tired of seeing you bitch and complain. I'm all for getting rid of any public worker who abuses the system but to group of all of them together in my opinion is wrong. You sound like a man who either lost a girl to a FF or someone who could not pass their "GED" based written test. I'm going to pray you find peace in your life and maybe a nice career you can be happy with. God bless you Pete!
To: D.Noonan: You wrote,"Yo Pete, I did not pick you job you". Hey Mr. D. "Firefighter Hero" Noonon"...we think it's time for you to go back to your refresher GED writing/English classes and maybe stop hanging out at Costco and Albertsons during your
on-duty, overtime hours buying lobster, T-bone steaks and gallons ice cream for your fellow 400% overpaid union firefighter "Hero" sisters and brothers. We as the general public have ZERO respect for you and your union firefighters.
By comparion....
Firefighters = $150,000
Soldiers being shot at and blown up daily = $40,000
Yo Pete, I did not pick you job for you, lighten up and get a life!
RJ...run her picture. Hopefully it will be a mug shot, but I'd settle for one in her spiffy uniform. Shame her! Then, arrest her, try her and convict her of a felony. That will settle the pension issue. The taxpayers deserve it.
Firefighters do the world's most dangerous job ! 9 1 1
@FF and Proud...we are still waiting for your answers to the two simple questions below, that I asked earlier. You always seem to have an answer for everything else, especially when it benefits you and your overpaid, average $180,000 plus annual wages, retire at age 48 or 49, $120,000 annual pension for life with health benefits too, weight lifing at Golds Gym while on duty, MDA boot collector while on duty to become a self-described local "Hero", Costco shopper while on duty, Albertsons shopper while on duty in the $750,000 oversized taxpayer paid ladder firetruck using taxpayer gas, under-educated, lazy, twice daily drag by the Kona Grill and honk the firetruck horn and waive and scream at the women with the US flag hanging from the back of the firetruck, union, "hoseholder" and "mattressback" buddies. You probably just went to sleep for 8 to 10 hours while on duty at overtime pay after your Costco lobster and steak dinner with ice cream. Oh Mr. FF and Proud...why has Firefighter Union Leader Ryan Beaman gone completely silent lately?