FL Mayor Doubts Fire Chief's Leadership

Sept. 21 -- VALPARAISO, FL -- Fire Chief Mark Norris has been suspended and Niceville Fire Chief Tommy Mayville has been appointed to oversee the Fire Department in his absence.

"I'm running Niceville and I'm the interim chief for Valparaiso," Mayville said Thursday morning.

Valparaiso Police Chief Joe Hart said he was directed Wednesday to hand deliver a letter to Norris from Valparaiso Mayor Brent Smith. It notified Norris he was being placed on paid administrative leave "pending a hearing regarding the current state of the City of Valparaiso Fire Department."

"I have lost confidence in your ability to sufficiently guide the Fire Department in a time of need," Smith's letter said. "I believe this to adversely affect the safe and efficient operation of the city government or any department. Especially the safety and welfare of our citizens who count on Fire Department services in life-threatening situations."

Smith ordered Norris to surrender all city property, including badges, radios and vehicles, and informed him he would be notified of the time and place of the hearing.

When contacted by the Daily News on Thursday morning, Smith declined to provide any information about Norris' suspension.

"We're doing some rescheduling and remodeling," he said. "It's not something we're going to discuss with the press. We're keeping our sources to ourselves."

Mayville said he was notified about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday of Norris' suspension and his expanded role of overseeing two departments.

"I'm here to help out as a neighboring chief," he said. "My boss told me to make this work and I'm here to make this work."

Mayville praised the Valparaiso Fire Department, but added "There are some things that need some fine tuning."

"What they have here is a good thing," he said. "I am going to put some stuff in order."

Mayville said he did not know what had led to Norris' suspension, but held out the possibility "Mr. Norris could come right back" to duty. He did not rule out the possibility of a permanent consolidation of fire department management.

"I do know there will always be a Valparaiso Fire Department and there will always be a Niceville Fire Department," he said.

Two Valparaiso city commissioners contacted Thursday said knew of Norris' suspension but had not been provided specific details.

"I think they're looking into a complaint," Commissioner Kay Hamilton said.

Commissioner Edward Crosby said he had no comment and Commissioner Joe Denney, who has commission oversight over the Fire Department, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Norris, who could not be reached for comment, has served as fire chief for about 10 years, and was assistant chief before taking the top job.

Chad Lee, who is the president of the Fire Department's volunteer board and as such represents the rank and file before the department's administration, has spoken critically of Norris to reporters in the past. On Thursday he referred comments to Mayville.

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