20071113 WBAL: Goodwin Gone As Baltimore Fire Chief

WBAL: Goodwin Gone As Baltimore Fire Chief

Goodwin Gone As Baltimore Fire Chief

BALTIMORE FIRE CHIEF WILLIAM GOODWIN RESIGNS. LISTEN TO WBAL RADIO FOR CONTINUING DEVELOPMENTS. UPDATES AVAILABLE ON DEMAND AT http://wbal.com

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

WBAL Radio

Baltimore's Fire Chief William Goodwin Jr. will step down December 31, bookending a tough year that included the death of a fire department recruit during a training exercise.

Goodwin, a 32-year veteran of the department who has been fire chief since February 2002, submitted his resignation to Mayor Dixon during a meeting Tuesday, said the mayor's spokesman, Anthony McCarthy.

Dixon did not ask Goodwin to step down, but "the mayor was not surprised that the chief decided to retire," McCarthy said.

[…]

The mayor will conduct a national search for his successor, McCarthy said.

[…]

Dixon had expressed lukewarm support for Goodwin since the February training exercise that killed recruit Racheal Wilson, 29, whose foot became trapped during a live burn in a vacant rowhouse.

Dixon fired the head of the department's training academy and suspended two lieutenants after Wilson's death. A state agency cited the department for "intentionally" and "knowingly" violating safety rules, and an independent investigation concluded that 50 safety standards were violated, including setting several fires when only one was allowed.

The two unions that represent city firefighters had called for Goodwin to resign, accusing him of failing to accept responsibility for Wilson's death and hurting department morale.

"We're elated," said Richard G. Schluderberg, president of the union…

[…]

Said Stephen Fugate, president of the fire officers' union…

[…]

Mayor Dixon Accepts Resignation of Fire Chief William Goodwin

Baltimore, MD (November 13, 2007) – Mayor Sheila Dixon has accepted the resignation of Baltimore City Fire Chief William Goodwin. Chief Goodwin informed the Mayor in a meeting this afternoon of his decision to retire in late-December after 32 years with the department. Goodwin became Chief of the Baltimore City Fire Department in 2002 after having served in every rank in the department.

"Chief Goodwin has served the City of Baltimore and the Fire Department with distinction. On behalf of the citizens I want to thank him for his years of sacrifice and commitment over an extraordinarily long and successful career," said Mayor Dixon. "The last year has been difficult for the department and Chief Goodwin has provided the steady and consistent hand that was needed."

Mayor Dixon will immediately begin a national search for a new chief.

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