Commission unanimously upholds firing of firefighter

BY CINDY TOOPES Courier staff writer

February 27, 2008 10:48 am

— OTTUMWA — After three hours of testimony, the Ottumwa Civil Service Commission unanimously upheld the firing of Firefighter Jason Crandall.
City Fire Chief Steve O’Connor issued a “Specifications for Dismissal” Jan. 30 to Crandall after a coffee can containing Crandall’s feces was found “in an area where it would be presumed to be found by another person.”
O’Connor said the act was “an unaccepted social practice, an exposure to a potential bloodborne pathogen” and considered it serious misconduct.
Crandall appealed his termination to the commission and city staff set up a hearing for Monday.
City Attorney Tom Kintigh tended to the commission’s concerns while Attorney Michael Galloway of Ahlers & Cooney, Des Moines, represented the city.
Attorney Ken Duker of Ottumwa defended Crandall.
Sgt. Mickey Hucks of Ottumwa Police Department investigated the incident and said Crandall told him he had to provide stool samples for medical tests. Crandall said he had permission to do so while on duty Jan. 8 for a 24-hour shift.
Crandall told Hucks the doctor gave him a kit so he could put samples into the vials. The firefighter said he has suffered “chronic diarrhea since having a gallbladder removed” a couple of years ago.
To collect his sample, Crandall used one of the extra coffee cans the firefighters kept for various purposes. He left the can on a corner of a bench filled with equipment in the fire station’s apparatus room.
“Crandall said there wasn’t room in his locker so he put the can in an area where it was hidden,” Hucks said.
Crandall was off work by 7 a.m. Tuesday and left the can at the station because he knew he’d be back on Thursday. He didn’t want to do the sample again and feared freezing and thawing would harm the sample if he took it with him.
The firefighters’ union met Tuesday night and Crandall attended. Hucks testified he was told there was a “farting contest” after the union meeting. He said Crandall got his can out and participated in “mechanical farting.”
Assistant Chief Tony Miller testified Crandall was one of his crew members, was known to be a prankster and was warned to stop. He said Crandall was known for startling people and for the time he filled light bulbs with water and put them back in use.
Galloway asked if that was dangerous.
Miller said it’s “not recommended.”
Crandall had also set up a rubber mallet to fall on someone, according to Miller.
Duker asked about discipline and if there were any records of reprimands in Crandall’s file. Miller said there wasn’t any in the file but a reprimand was made.
Ron Klein found the can Wednesday when Crandall was off. The feces were in a plastic coffee can with two plastic spoons in it. For O’Connor that was a “clear message to the next shift about what to eat.”
The chief said he terminated Crandall for three reasons: Leaving his feces where it could decompose and become offensive “was an act of violence”; all bodily fluids are biohazards and must be put in a bag; and, putting the can where someone else would find it isn’t socially acceptable.
During his testimony, Crandall said he’s been with Ottumwa Fire for nearly six years and previously served in Fort Worth, Texas, for more than three years.
“Do you have reputation as a prankster?” Duker asked.
“Yes,” Crandall said.
Duker also asked Crandall if he did malicious pranks or had ever hurt anyone. Crandall said no.
“Did you do this as an act of violence?” Duker said.
Crandall said no.
“Did you use bad judgment?” Duker said.
“Yes,” Crandall said.
Crandall also testified he hadn’t done any more pranks since Assistant Chief Tony Miller had reprimanded him.
After all witnesses had testified, the commissioners commented while making their decision.
Civil Service Chairman Jim McDonald said “whether the act was malicious or not” there should be some disciplinary action.
“[Crandall’s] reputation as a prankster is hard to overcome,” McDonald said.
Commissioner John Vandello said the whole incident “is really sad” because “by all accounts, [Crandall] is a good firefighter.” He also mentioned the expense involved to train a firefighter and he had hoped there was some way to keep him.
“He lost credibility when he got the can out and showed it to others,” Vandello added. “That was a lack of respect.”
Commissioner JoEllen Randall said she was having a “hard time believing this wasn’t a prank.”
“But, even excellent firefighters can make bad decisions,” Randall said to Crandall. “I specifically said to you, ‘If this was truly a prank what do you think the consequences should be?’ ‘Termination,’ you said. You know in your heart.”
McDonald also said the city needs a policy of progressive discipline. Then, if someone “gets rapped on the hand,” such questionable behavior won’t continue.
Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.

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