Colorado Fire Chief Gets Docked Pay For Political Activity, Actions Violated City Policy
Colorado Springs Fire Chief Manuel Navarro is suspended from his office for one week without pay for his involvement in the primiary election campaign of a local realtor who lost his bid for El Paso County Commissioner.
Colorado Springs City Manager Lorne Kramer made the announcement at a Friday afternoon news conference.
The suspension follows an investigation into Chief Navarro's endorsement of candidate Jack Gloriod in the August tenth primary.
The City Manager says the decision was made because the Chief violated a written and well known city policy that prohibits salaried employees from using their office to endorse candidates and causes.
The City Manager says unlike most personnel decisions he made the decision public because the Fire Chief went public with his endorsement of Jack Gloriod.
That campaign flyer was mailed to a News 13 reporter who lives the third commissioner district.
The City Manager says it was important that citizens and employees know the outcome of his investigation.
Chief Navarro responded to the suspension, telling News 13, "as a senior public official I must balance my personal right of free speech with my office."
Chief Navarro admits he broke policy, "so that there is no confusion, it was my personal decision to identify myself with this candidate. I improperly used my title and I made a poor decision and I am now being held accountable."
At issue was a campaign flier, in which the Chief clearly used his title to endorse Jack Gloriod, who lost to Sallie Clark in the district three county commissioner race.
Navarro continued, "I apologize if I led citizens to believe that my endorsement was anything other than my personal opinion."
City Manager Lorne Kramer said, "I feel strongly about accountability and accountability is a value that we aspire in this position and that accountability applies at all levels."
That accountability will cost the Chief one week's pay which is about 2-thousand 420 dollars.
The Chief's suspension starts Saturday and runs through monday August 30th.
Navarro has served as Colorado Springs Fire Chief for ten years. Deputy Chief Robert Weller will assume the Chief's duties during his suspension.
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