UPDATE: May 9 at 5:30 p.m.
In the latest update regarding the resignation of the Lawrenceburg Fire Chief John Durr and multiple other members of the department, Mayor Troy Young has also released a statement.
According to Young, 11 members of the city's fire department, including Durr, originally resigned; two of those firefighters have withdrawn their resignations. When Durr and Young met on Tuesday morning, he, along with another firefighter, submitted their resignations.
Young said that at no time were "the residents of the City of Lawrenceburg without fire protection."
The rest of Young's statement reads:
In a strong show of community and professional support, an abundance of qualified firefighters has joined the department. Among the new personnel are eight certified firefighters, including five certified training officers, ensuring the department remains not only fully staffed, but also well-positioned to provide continued high-quality service and internal training. We are looking forward to them joining the roster with our current dedicated firefighters.
The City of Lawrenceburg Fire Department was originally founded in 1904 and remains committed to its mission of providing effective emergency response and public safety. The department looks forward to continuing to serve the community with professionalism, skill, and integrity.
UPDATE: May 8 at 7 p.m.
According to Jimmy Robinson, board chairman of the Anderson County Fire District, the city and county currently do not have a mutual aid agreement. While the county fire department will still provide assistance to the city, it does not happen automatically.
The decision to restore that agreement, he said, is up to the city.
LEX 18 also spoke with a firefighter who resigned this week and asked to share his story anonymously. He provided photos of empty storage areas and folded up uniforms following a city meeting Wednesday night.
We contacted the Lawrenceburg mayor's office for clarification about the number of firefighter resignations on Thursday, but we have not heard back.
Former Lawrenceburg Fire Chief John Durr has also released a statement following his resignation:
I want to send out a huge, thank you to all my friends and family that have checked in with me today. If you notice I did not say firefighters because I look at firefighters as my family.
I am completely comfortable with my decision to resign as Fire Chief. Please make it clear that this was for personnel issues and not personal issues. I can no longer perform as Chief when my hands are tied From operating the department as a chief. I have had numerous request to the city for automatic assistance from the county fire department on working structure fires to aid in the safety of our citizens of Lawrenceburg and our firefighters. this has continuously been rejected. I’ve also made a request for a demotion of a staff member that is not qualified for the position that they are in and proof was given in writing, that has been rejected.
You’re going to be told that I gave an ultimatum. That is incorrect. I was given an ultimatum of how to fix this without demoting someone. I cannot work with a staff member that is under qualified and will put the public and firefighters and harms way. This is a huge public safety issue. To put pride aside and call for help before you think you need is the best option for the public and our firefighters. To wait and see until you get on scene and then determine how many personnel is going to show up and then call for help is a waste of time. This is no different than a police officer responding in the city for a domestic and a sheriffs officer going with them for safety. We do not expect that officer to show up on scene and then call for help.
You’re going to be told that three people resigned and that is incorrect. I have 11 letters in my possession of people that turned them into me last night. The city has not updated their information that three people resigned. If that was not delivered today that falls on the acting Chief for not delivering that information. These people are leaving because of the lack of leadership and the fear for their safety on a fire ground.
The city has removed a drone from the fire department possession, which is a very vital tool for a missing child or a missing elderly patient after I brought to their attention that the drone was being operated, not in accordance of FAA regulations, and there was no policy in place and no insurance on the device. The fire department worked passionately to fix every issue to only be met with resistance and delays on getting the policy approved and stall tactics stating that we had no pilot. When the pilot certification was presented at the city council meeting two months ago.
I can no longer put my reputation on the line for the fear of getting someone hurt in the public or as a firefighter, or not being able to find a citizen based on the tools that I have been given.
It has been an honor to serve and lead some very intelligent and hard-working firefighters of the city fire department.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The City of Lawrenceburg Mayor, Troy Young, announced on Thursday that Lawrenceburg Fire Department Chief John Durr has submitted his resignation due to a "personnel matter."
According to a release from the mayor, they have received a total of three letters of resignation.
The mayor notes that the matter remains ongoing and there will be no further comment.
LEX 18 reached out to former Chief Durr, who stated that he submitted his resignation on Tuesday, originally effective May 14, but was let go at midnight on Thursday.
Durr also told LEX 18 that the city's statement is "inaccurate" and that 10 other members had given him resignation letters.
