Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Charles Phillips has resigned, two months after county officials began investigating allegations that he sexually harassed an employee.
But Phillips, a 29-year-fire rescue veteran who was named to his job a year ago, insisted Wednesday that he had not done anything wrong.
"This decision is based upon my own personal reasons and in what I believe to be in the best interest of my family and the Fire Department," Phillips wrote to County Manager George Burgess.
"I know I am leaving my position with my head held high because I am not guilty of the charges made against me and hope that this decision will alleviate any further distractions in the Fire Department."
Burgess was expected to announce soon a decision on Phillips' future, which came into question when the chief's executive assistant, Sarah Hartfield, accused him of harassment. Hartfield also alleged that Phillips forced her to complete his coursework from the doctoral program he was taking at night.
Burgess said Phillips' resignation saved him from having to take action, but the county manager would not comment on any steps he would have taken if the chief had not resigned.
"He preempted my subsequent option," Burgess said. "It really didn't require me to take the next step. I'm pleased with the fact that we're putting this behind us."
While the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office found no criminal wrongdoing during their investigation, Burgess recently appointed a three-member investigative panel to determine if Phillips had violated any administrative policy.
Both Phillips and Hartfield were placed on paid administrative leave pending the results of the investigation, which sparked outrage from the chief's supporters.
Phillips' attorney, Norman Powell, said his client merely took one of two options offered by Burgess.
"One alternative was simply to be demoted; the other was simply to resign," Norman Powell said.
"If he took the demotion, his accumulated sick leave would be greatly affected by that. The chief has taken the high road and took the best option for him."
Powell said Phillips, who was paid an annual salary of $189,000, would not return to "riding on a fire truck" from a position where he led one of the largest fire departments in the country as the organization's first black chief.Burgess appointed Assistant Fire Chief Tony Bared to lead the 1,500-member department and said Hartfield would be taken off leave and asked to return to work.
Burgess would not say whether Hartfield would continue in her previous position or keep her current $95,000 salary.
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