The Bethesda Fire Department has agreed to pay $259,000 to a former deputy fire chief who was fired after publicly criticizing Montgomery County’s ability to respond to a chemical or biological attack, according to the ex-official’s lawyer.
Shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, former Deputy Fire Chief Lewis German told media outlets that the 150 biochemical protective suits the county had acquired through $500,000 in federal funds were practically useless. German complained that the suits weren’t widely distributed at county fire stations and hadn’t been tested on a regular basis to make sure they worked properly.
After former County Executive Doug Duncan held a news conference saying German had made the remarks for personal gain, German sent an e-mail to other firefighters saying that no one “wanted Mr. Duncan’s job or his wife,” according to court records.
Former Bethesda Fire Department Board President Virginia Miller, who is still on the department’s board, told German’s bosses that she wanted “his head on a platter” and demanded he be fired, court records said.
German’s boss sent him an e-mail saying he had to apologize to Duncan, accept a six-month suspension and agree “to never again contact the media in any way” while working for the department to keep his job.
German, who was a volunteer but received a monthly stipend, refused and was fired in February 2002. He later sued the department, charging it had violated his right to free speech.
German moved out of state after his firing. His lawyer, who could not be reached for comment, said in a statement that the “sizeable settlement” sent a message that fire departments can’t silence firefighters “who dare publicly speak out about legitimate safety concerns.”
