Embattled Oswego fire chief calls it quits

<span class="body">Four months after the infamous 911 leak, Fire Chief Ed Geers announced he is retiring.

According to Nancy Sterio, city personnel director, Geers' retirement is effective Sunday. This announcement comes at a time when the city is waiting for the pending fire department audit that is believed to be critical of the current fire department administration.</span>

<span class="body">Geers has been employed with the Oswego Fire Department for approximately 33 years. He became a firefighter in 1974 and in May of 2000 he was appointed chief.</span>

<span class="body">Sterio said she could not disclose any information at this time about whether or not Geers chose to retire or if he was asked to retire.</span>

<span class="body">The fire chief's retirement comes after his 30-day suspension along with Tom Amedio, the firefighter union representative. Both were suspended for 30 days without pay in September for their roles in the leak of a 911 call made by Councilor Ed Harrington, D-3rd Ward.</span>

<span class="body">Sterio said she has not had a chance to discuss who will be Geers' successor with Mayor Randy Bateman. As of right now, Joe Perry will remain as acting fire chief. The last time the fire chief civil service exam was held was in January of this year.</span>

<span class="body">When called to ask about his retirement announcement, Geers said, "I've got no comment for The Palladium-Times."</span>

<span class="body">Mayor Randy Bateman was unavailable at press time Thursday.</span>

<span class="body">Amedio returned to work on Oct. 14 while Geers did not. Amedio was not aware of Geers' retirement Thursday afternoon and did not wish to comment on it. He did say that he was "ecstatic," however, to get back to work.</span>

<span class="body">Dick Atkins, D-7th Ward, spoke about Geers' retirement. "It's probably best for both parties involved. I wish him the best for his retirement."</span>

<span class="body">Harrington also commented about the retirement announcement. He said, "I think it's a good thing. It's saving the city a lot of embarrassment as well as the fire department.</span>

<span class="body">"It's not a surprise to me that he (Geers) did that. It was probably the easiest way out."</span>

<span class="body">The councilor also commented about the rough draft of the fire department audit. Harrington said he had not read through the whole draft yet but he did read the recommendations. "Based on what I've read, this report is critical of the management of the fire department in the way some things are done and not done," Harrington said.</span>

<span class="body">According to Harrington, one of the recommendations of the audit is for the fire department to start using both firehouses. The councilor said that every time an ambulance call goes out, it is responded by the Eastside Fire Department.</span>

<span class="body">Harrington expects the audit to made available to the public sometime after the Nov. 6 elections.</span>