Whistle blower files petition against Seattle fire chief
SEATTLE -- The man who blew the whistle on alleged misconducts within the Seattle Fire Department has filed a petition against Seattle Fire Chief Gregory Dean.
Battalion Chief James Woodbury filed the petition in Superior Court on Monday afternoon.
Woodbury said he was retaliated against for making allegations against Lt. Milton Footer. Woodbury had filed a complaint with the Seattle Elections and Ethics Commission last September, accusing Footer of abusing his power.
An ensuing investigation by the ethics commission found that Footer, who has been handling all the fire marshal duties for Qwest Field and the Qwest Field Event Center since 2002, had "grossly wasted public funds."
The report stated Footer failed to bill First and Goal, a Paul Allen company which operates Qwest Field, $195,679 to pay for firefighters who work overtime during Seahawks games to ensure public safety.
The investigation also concluded Footer misused his official position by allegedly strong-arming Key Arena personnel to get an extra backstage pass for his fiance to a sold-out Hannah Montana concert.
Footer has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Woodbury said he filed a complaint with the Mayor's Office in January, claiming he was demoted from deputy chief and assistant fire marshal in retaliation for blowing the whistle on Footer.
"I have a perfect record of employment with the city and have never been the subject of discipline," Woodbury wrote in a letter to the mayor.
Woodbury said he wants to be reinstated to his former position as deputy chief and to be reimbursed for wages lost as a result of the demotion.
Woodbury also wrote that knowledge of the ethics complaint he filed is widespread within the fire department.
According to the ethics commission's report, when firefighters asked the chief to step in over the years, Dean's answers varied and included accusations that they were "out to get Milt."
In its report, the ethics commission called Seattle Fire Department's response "unsatisfactory," saying the "potential for misconduct is extremely high."
Battalion Chief James Woodbury filed the petition in Superior Court on Monday afternoon.
Woodbury said he was retaliated against for making allegations against Lt. Milton Footer. Woodbury had filed a complaint with the Seattle Elections and Ethics Commission last September, accusing Footer of abusing his power.
An ensuing investigation by the ethics commission found that Footer, who has been handling all the fire marshal duties for Qwest Field and the Qwest Field Event Center since 2002, had "grossly wasted public funds."
The report stated Footer failed to bill First and Goal, a Paul Allen company which operates Qwest Field, $195,679 to pay for firefighters who work overtime during Seahawks games to ensure public safety.
The investigation also concluded Footer misused his official position by allegedly strong-arming Key Arena personnel to get an extra backstage pass for his fiance to a sold-out Hannah Montana concert.
Footer has been placed on paid administrative leave.
Woodbury said he filed a complaint with the Mayor's Office in January, claiming he was demoted from deputy chief and assistant fire marshal in retaliation for blowing the whistle on Footer.
"I have a perfect record of employment with the city and have never been the subject of discipline," Woodbury wrote in a letter to the mayor.
Woodbury said he wants to be reinstated to his former position as deputy chief and to be reimbursed for wages lost as a result of the demotion.
Woodbury also wrote that knowledge of the ethics complaint he filed is widespread within the fire department.
According to the ethics commission's report, when firefighters asked the chief to step in over the years, Dean's answers varied and included accusations that they were "out to get Milt."
In its report, the ethics commission called Seattle Fire Department's response "unsatisfactory," saying the "potential for misconduct is extremely high."