It?s not the most personal way to fire someone. Baltimore?s firefighters unions say they?re upset that Fire Department Chief William Goodwin forced out Deputy Chief of Administration Theodore Saunders Friday.
But they say they?re just as disgusted by the way the chief did the deed ? a BlackBerry message.
“To fire someone by BlackBerry shows no courage,” said Richard Schluderberg, president of the Baltimore Firefighters Union. “This is absolutely no way to treat someone who dedicated his career to the fire department. It?s a big brain drain. In my opinion Goodwin saw him as a threat to replace him and he has a knack of getting rid of people who just don?t kiss his ring.”
Baltimore Fire Department spokesman Rick Binetti on Monday did not return a phone call seeking comment. The termination has sparked discussion on a fire union Web site, where Stephan Fugate, president of the Baltimore Fire Officers, called Goodwin?s decision “sad but not at all surprising.”
Saunders handled himself “with dignity and extended that same dignity to those with whom he dealt, regardless of the circumstances,” Fugate wrote. “We did not always agree and we were quite often on opposite sides of the issue but he never abused or misused his authority, and made the difficult decisions his job required of him always mindful of the impact on others.”
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon?s spokesman, Anthony McCarthy, did not respond to calls Monday about Saunders? departure.
