Wilmington's fire chief was demoted and both city and fire union officials are concerned that the move will cost the city money.
Mayor Mike Purzycki's office announced Anthony Goode will become a senior firefighter and be assigned to an administrative post for five months.
At that point, Goode will be eligible to retire and collect an early pension, according to DelawareOnline.com.
Goode, 42, will be able to collect an half of his $109,000 salary, plus benefits, for 20 years before he reaches pension age, union president Kevin Turner told the newspaper.
"They'll keep an engine closed every day but find money for a former chief that terrorized his men and women and brought morale to the lowest point in the history of the department," Turner said.
"And that’s for the rest of your life," City Councilwoman Loretta Walsh responded.
"I am well aware that the former chief has his critics, and some of them do not like the decision I have made," he said. "The former chief and I do not see eye to eye on the administration of the fire service, and that is why I made a change in command. But, those matters aside, I am comfortable that this decision is in the best interests of the city and of Anthony Goode and his family which includes his father who was a firefighter who died in the line of duty.”
