Fire chief faces ethics complaint
Ocean City-Wright Fire Chief Randy Brown has been notified that he is being investigated by the Florida Commission on Ethics.
The investigation concerns the fire department’s 2002 hiring and 2006 promotion of Brown’s son, Christopher.
A package containing information about the younger Brown’s hiring and promotion, and confidential communication between the chief and the Commission on Ethics was dropped off anonymously at the Daily News earlier this week.
“I can probably guess” who the anonymous complainant is, Randy Brown said.
Also included in the packet was a copy of a 1993 Florida Statute that states: “The fire chief shall not recommend for employment, promo - tion or advancement or have on staff any of the following relatives: father, mother, son, daughter ... ”
Chris Brown was hired in 2002. Randy Brown became Ocean City-Wright’s chief in 2004.
Chris Brown was promoted from firefighter to engineer on Feb. 23, 2006, according to a memo contained in the packet. Deputy Fire Chief Donald Lehr’s signature is on the memo announcing the promotion.
The Commission on Ethics notified Randy Brown in August that the complaint lodged against him “has been found sufficient for investigation.”
He said he had received a letter from the commission, but couldn’t discuss the investigation at least until he was contacted by an investigator.
“They haven’t even come and talked to me yet,” he said. “Until they come and talk to me, I don’t know what to say.”
Brown did say he didn’t hire his son. As to the promotion, he commented “there are other circumstances involved in this.”
“That’s the part I’m not able to comment on,” he said. “I’m following (the commission’s) guidelines that this should be confidential.”
Kerrie Stillman, a Commission on Ethics spokeswoman, could neither confirm nor deny the investigation.