Denver Fire Chief Eric Tade has stepped down Tuesday following a controversial firefighters event over the weekend.
Tade's last day as chief will be March 16, KCNC-TV reports. He will continue with the department as assistant chief.
"It’s the right time to step back and bring in new leadership to implement new strategies and a fresh perspective to foster continued improvement," Tade said in a statement. "That’s what the men and women of this department deserve, and I remain committed to this department and the people we serve every day."
Although Tade and city officials did not give a specific reason for the resignation, multiple sources familiar with the chief's departure told KCNC it stemmed from union-sponsored firefighters gala Saturday. For the second consecutive year, the event included sexually charged and coarse humor.
During the gala, a comedian cracked jokes about sex toys, attendees told KCNC. Last year, a sex toy was reportedly raffled at the event and firefighters posed pictures with it, actions that Tade called inappropriate at the time and vowed to make sure it wouldn't be repeated.
“Last year, I promised you, the Mayor, that the nature surrounding the 2019 Denver Fire Fighters, Local 858, and Protective Associations’ Firefighters Annual Ball, Retiree Banquet and Awards Ceremony would not occur again," Tade wrote in his resignation letter, according to KCNC. "Strategies were implemented and assurances were made to prevent these actions from being repeated. Unfortunately, this year’s event did not prove to live up to those expectations or mine. New strategies and a fresh perspective are beneficial to foster continued improvement. In that, I have offered to step down as Chief of the Department to the Mayor for consideration."
