Denver Fire Chief Claimed Comp Time for Memorial Services, Dining with Firefighters

Denver Fire Chief Desmond Fulton amassed more than 400 hours of comp time for attending memorial services, retirement parties as well as dining with firefighters in fire stations and watching the All-Star baseball game.

He set his regular schedule as 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If he attended any event outside those hours, he reportedly claimed comp time, according to CBSColorado.

Firefighters told reporters they feel that his attendance at many of the functions falls as part of his job as chief.

Fulton didn't comment on the reporter's probe. 

Denver Executive Director of Public Safety Armando Saldate said he was "unaware of the practice" and ordered an immediate stop to it.

In an April 11 email to Fulton and his executive staff, Saldate wrote, "An independent investigation will be conducted into the Executive Staff's use of such time, including, but not limited to, whether the use of such time was legally authorized (...) all DFD Executive Staff is ordered to immediately cease the utilization of Kelly/Flex time."

In October 2022, Fulton attended the National Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service in Maryland for a weekend. Denver taxpayers footed the bill and he also put in 19 hours of comp time for attending the weekend events, city records show. 

"It's disgusting. People go on their days off to honor our fallen firefighters. We don't do it for money. We do it because we respect the sacrifice that those firefighters have made. They gave their lives to save the community," an unidentified Denver firefighter told a reporter.