Embattled Baltimore City Fire Chief William Goodwin resigned abruptly late Tuesday afternoon ? the second City Hall casualty in a week after Mayor Sheila Dixon?s victory in the general election.
Goodwin, whose tenure was marred by controversy over the death of fire cadet Racheal Wilson during a botched training exercise in February and alleged cheating on promotional tests, resigned his post effective Dec. 1, according to a statement from the mayor?s office.
“Chief Goodwin has served the City of Baltimore and the Fire Department with distinction,” Dixon said in the statement. “? The last year has been difficult for the department, and Chief Goodwin has provided the steady and consistent hand that was needed.”
Dixon administration officials insisted the decision to leave was his own.
“He has reached a pivotal point in his career and decided it was time for him to move on,” Dixon?s spokesman Anthony McCarthy said.
But officials said his resignation and that of Parks and Recreation Director Connie Brown on Thursday has City Hall staffers on edge. Dixon had said some employees would need to reinterview ? and that no job was safe.
“Everybody is walking around on pins and needles,” City Councilman Jack Young said. “The mayor wants results, and in order to get results, she?s going to put people in charge that can get the job done. She?s putting her mark on the city.”
Goodwin?s resignation was immediately hailed by firefighters unions.
“It?s good news,” said Richard Schluderberg, president of the Baltimore City Firefighters? union. “My membership lost faith in his leadership. He reacted to [Wilson?s death] by trying to blame others…. We didn?t feel that was what someone in a leadership position should do.”
Stephan Fugate, president of the Baltimore City Fire Officers? union, also celebrated the news.
“When he came in back in 2002, he had the union?s support,” Fugate said. “But we learned he was going to do what he wanted to do whether we liked it or not. The Racheal Wilson tragedy … was the final straw. It was either him or us. I?m happy it?s him.”
