Report: Deputy Fire Chief Lied During Investigation

PAPILLION, Neb. - KETV.com

Papillion officials have named two firefighters who they said provided recruits with test questions and answers, a move that caused the department to invalidate the tests and start over from scratch.

Jeffrey Strawn, a deputy chief, and Matthew Sullivan, a captain, were both demoted to the rank of firefighter 1, said city administrator Dan Hoins in a statement released Monday.

Strawn and Sullivan have a combined experience of 38 years. But that won't help them on Tuesday, when they'll effectively enter the Fire Department as entry-level firefighters.

Firefighter candidates who used the test questions and answers have been prohibited from applying for city jobs in the future.

City officials got suspicious last month when some applicants scored unusually high on a written portion of the test. Two current firefighters were accused in the cheating and an investigation was begun.

Hoins called the punishment "severe." Firefighter 1 means the two will return to entry-level positions. He said he handed down the punishment after consulting with investigators and the fire chief.

"I would consider it the most severe discipline short of termination," Hoins said.

Hoins sent a letter to Strawn Monday, telling him he gave information to applicants that others couldn't obtain. Hoins said that information directly allowed applicants to improve their performance.

Throughout the investigation, Hoins said Strawn lied several times about what happened. Ultimately, Hoins said, Strawn "violated public trust."

Sullivan received the same letter, but he was more forthcoming about what happened, Hoins said. Sullivan said he wished he could take it all back, and Hoins said he accepts that.

The men weren't fired because they brought decades of experience into the department, Hoins said.

"I believe at the end of the day, they're still good firefighters and if we can take advantage of that, with the city of Papillion, I think that's a win-win situation," he said.

As a result f the demotions, Strawn will take a $20,000 pay cut. Sullivan's pay cut will be about $13,000, Hoins said. They'll both make about $52,000 per year.

The setback put

the Papillion Fire Department

about three months behind in its hiring process. It also cost the city tens of thousands of dollars and inconvenienced 166 applicants.

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