The former Montgomery County assistant fire chief who collided with a police car and caused a four-car pileup after a Washington Redskins game in November is fighting his “dismissal,” according to his spokesman.
Assistant Fire Chief Greg DeHaven’s “dismissal is under appeal,” said his spokesman, I.J. Hudson.
But acting Fire Chief Richard Bowers Jr. said Tuesday that DeHaven had “retired” from the fire department.
“I have nothing to say about retirement,” Hudson said.
Hudson declined to comment further about DeHaven’s appeal, but said earlier that DeHaven would file an appeal with the county Merit System Protection Board.
Calls to a fire department spokesman seeking clarification about DeHaven’s departure were not returned.
Investigations into the accident began shortly after the Nov. 30 crash.
The Examiner first reported the accident, and that a junior police officer on the scene thought he may have smelled alcohol on DeHaven’s breath, but a police sergeant and captain said they did not.
DeHaven had a blood-alcohol level at twice the legal limit three hours after he caused the accident on Interstate 270, according to The Washington Post’s account last month of a confidential fire department report.
The fire department continues to investigate the accident, Bowers said. The county’s inspector general also is investigating the incident and its handling by county officials.
DeHaven, who led the fire department’s honor guard unit, was returning from the group’s presentation of colors at a Redskins game when his county-owned sport utility vehicle sideswiped a car and went “semi-airborne” before hitting a police car making a traffic stop, according to police.
Bowers placed DeHaven on administrative duty two weeks after the Nov. 30 accident and put him on paid leave Feb. 9.
DeHaven’s last day with the department was March 31, Hudson said. But as of Tuesday, his contact information was listed on the county Web site, and he was listed on the honor guard Web site as a “Team Leader.”
DeHaven, a 28-year veteran, said there was “no question” that he made a mistake, but added the county was treating him unfairly.
“This was a one-time incident, and I believe I should have been treated like other people in this situation — given the benefit of doubt and offered options, including allowing me to stay with the county in some capacity,” he said in a statement. “I feel as though I’ve been singled out.”
DeHaven disputes the fire department’s report, saying his blood-alcohol results were entered incorrectly.
