City Administrator Sides Against GA Fire Chief in Complaint

Augusta's administrator has decided in favor of a member of the Augusta Fire Department in a grievance filed against Chief Chris James.

Fire Capt. Daniel Steele filed the complaint with the city Human Resources department after fellow firefighters gathered signatures for a petition in favor of the chief.

The grievance contended there was "implied coercion and intimidation factors" used in obtaining signatures for the petition, which was circulated during work hours on department property, interim Administrator Jarvis Sims said in his response.

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Steele, an Augusta firefighter for 22 years, is with Augusta Professional Firefighters Association Local 3357, which has repeatedly called for James' resignation. The union had recently presented a petition of its own signed by hundreds of firefighters citing problems in the department.

Sims said that after reviewing the claim, James' response and a report and recommendation from Human Resources Director Anita Rookard, he determined that the circulation of the petition was "not appropriate" and in violation of established policy.

James did not return a message seeking comment. He has worked for the department for 33 years and was promoted to chief in 2012.

Sims' decision could add fire to growing Augusta Commission dissatisfaction with James. Two weeks ago, former EMS Chief James Kelly filed a sex discrimination complaint against him, and the department is undergoing an independent evaluation with results expected any day.

Steele told The Augusta Chronicle in August that firefighter morale and self-esteem was the lowest he'd ever seen. He blamed leadership, saying James' top deputies only spoke to assign mandatory overtime or give punishment.

Frequent resignations and retirements, mandatory overtime, low morale and unsafe practices, particularly with COVID-19 cases, have been among the union's chief complaints recently.

Since the start of 2018, 140 firefighters have left the approximately 400-member department, including 74 who resigned, according to recent union numbers.

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