By Bruce Selcraig
San Antonio Express-News
SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Fire Department has placed on paid administrative leave the head of the agency’s training academy, city and department officials said.
“We can confirm that Assistant Chief Joe Jones has been placed on leave,” said city spokesman Jeff Coyle. “But it’s an ongoing personnel matter so we will have no further comment. This is all about fairness and due process.”
In August, six cadets were dismissed from the training academy after being accused of drinking while on duty and in uniform, though they disputed this.
Those cadets claimed they were off duty from EMT basic training and met at a Twin Peaks restaurant, had some drinks and dinner, and went home. They stayed at the restaurant from 90 minutes to eight hours, and some of them admitted to driving after consuming alcohol, according to an internal SAFD memo.
Any consumption of alcohol, on or off duty, was a violation of the terms of their training, Fire Chief Charles Hood said in September, responding to criticism from the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association, some union members and politicians for his handling of the matter.
Chris Steele, head of the firefighters’ union, had said his members are considering whether to sue the city over the cadets’ dismissal. Steele said through a spokeswoman Thursday that he would have no comment on the disciplinary action taken against Jones this week.
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