Hollister Fire Chief Mike O’Connor, who returned to work last week after a six-week paid administrative leave while the city looked into and found no evidence of improper behavior, will retire on Jan. 31, 2015, prompting a search for his permanent replacement.
A retired Sunnyvale Police lieutenant, Renold Irizarr, was paid more than $13,000 look into allegations that O’Connor violated federal laws relating to overtime for reserve firefighters, had part-time employees work full time without medical benefits, falsified time cards and shifted hours from full-time employees to reserve firefighters including O’Connor’s son, Ryan, who now works for the San Jose Fire Department.
The investigation noted that no violations were found regarding any of the allegations, though they are prompting a city review of policies related to the way the fire department operates, according to City Manager William Avera.
“We’re not really talking about policy changes,” he said. “We’re establishing policies.” The investigation, Avera added, “showed me how procedurally things need to be updated or that there needed to be policies that the city council needs to approve that we didn’t have in the past.” Avera is scheduled to ask the council at its Dec. 15 meeting for approval to hire an executive management search firm to find a permanent replacement for O’Connor.
The city’s contract to provide fire service for the entire county has necessitated more overtime and more policy oversight, officials say. “Previously, the number of reserve or paid call firefighters at a station was small, but having the responsibility for the station in San Juan Bautista (as well as two stations in Hollister) brings up a whole new category of involvement that we previously didn’t have. We do have a captain that’s over there (in San Juan) 40 hours per week, but when that officer leaves, it’s basically supported by reserves.”
In a message posted to his Facebook page, O’Connor said that he appreciated the encouragement he received during his administrative leave. “Members of my community who I may have not seen in years (and those I have), and brother and sister agencies that I have interacted with over the years took the time to contact me and give support through a frustrating period. I am honored to know that the work I have done over the past 25 years had made an impact and a difference to so many,” he said. “The city followed their required steps and protocols, and I am glad they took the time to do the thorough investigation and interviews. But I’m happy to get back to serving the department and the community.”
Avera said that the search for a new fire chief could take awhile, and that the position will require someone who wants to take on the responsibility of managing a large reserve program and serving the county’s fire service needs.