OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -- A former fire chief who resigned his post in Louisiana over politicking accusations has been named Washington state's new fire marshal.
Samuel P. Pierre, 42, most recently directed the fire prevention bureau of the Lafayette Fire Department. He resigned in 2002 after a firefighter accused him of distributing political propaganda during work, in violation of civil service rules. A department investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.
But the Lafayette fire and civil service board launched a separate inquiry, prompting Pierre to resign in protest. He said he'd become the target of some disgruntled firefighters who were unhappy with disciplinary action he'd taken against them.
``It was unfounded stuff. I was in the public eye every day, and to have my family dragged through that episode was unnecessary,'' Pierre told The Olympian newspaper. ``So I decided I didn't need that.''
Pierre brings 22 years of fire service experience to the fire marshal's office, which supports local fire districts, collects statistics, runs the Fire Training Academy and coordinates statewide fire mobilizations. The office also supervises annual fire inspections at nursing homes and licenses fireworks distributors.
Pierre holds a master's degree in public administration and has worked as a fire inspector and fire engineer. As head of Lafayette's fire prevention bureau, he oversaw arson investigations, code enforcement and fire protection services and managed a budget of about $500,000. He spent the past two years working for his brother, a Louisiana state legislator, and helping manage the family's real estate and cleaning business.
``I'm a visionary and I believe in taking a proactive approach. I want to build on the success of the bureau as it stands now,'' Pierre said, shortly after arriving in Washington state. ``I have a vision and I think I can be an asset to you all.''
The fire marshal's office is part of the State Patrol. Pierre was one of four finalists for the job interviewed by State Patrol Chief Lowell Porter, said patrol Capt. Fred Fakkema. He said all candidates were subject to thorough background reviews and lie-detector tests.
Pierre got the job after a nationwide search to replace former Fire Marshall Mary Corso, who resigned abruptly in May after six years in the job.
Two weeks ago, Corso settled a complaint filed against her with the Executive Ethics Board. She was accused of using her position to get a discounted sprinkler system for her home and having her staff to install it for free.
The state Fire Marshal's Office regulates the sprinkler industry. She saved $400 through the discount, documents say. The complaint was filed shortly after Corso resigned.
Corso denied any wrongdoing. Two of her deputies said they volunteered to help install the system, documents say.
In her settlement with the ethics board, Corso does not admit intentionally violating ethics laws, but acknowledges the board was likely to find that she did. She will be fined as part of the settlement, although the amount has not been set.
The investigation cleared Corso of any wrongdoing in another complaint, which asked whether her husband's job at Bates Technical College had helped steer contracts for fire-service training to the college.
Fakkema said Corso's resignation was unrelated to the ethics complaints.
