Chief Kenneth Ellerbe from Sarasota County website.
Click here & scroll down for our previous coverage on this story
STATter911.com has learned that Deputy Chief Kenneth Ellerbe resigned from the District of Columbia Fire & EMS Department on January 15. The resignation came a month and a day after it was first reported by David Lipscomb of The Washington Times that Ellerbe was both the chief of the Sarasota County Fire Department and on leave without pay from DC.
That revelation was followed by our report there was a signed agreement between the two jurisdictions that allowed this unusual arrangement. Numerous sources indicated the deal was an effort to let Chief Ellerbe stay employed by the DC Fire & EMS Department until his 50th birthday in April, providing hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional retirement benefits.
DC Fire & EMS Department Chief Spokesman Pete Piringer confirmed Kenneth Ellerbe’s new status today.
Still unanswered from anyone in the District government is exactly why this arrangement was made and what advantage there was for the city in facilitating such a deal.
STATter911.com learned on December 16 that the official “Personnel Exchange Agreement” was approved in DC by Assistant Fire Chief Brian Lee and Director of Human Resources Brender Gregory. The Department of Human Resources denied a Freedom of Information Act request by STATter911.com for paperwork and correspondence related to this agreement.
As we reported last month, DC Fire & EMS Department sources indicated when the arrangement was first presented to Chief Dennis Rubin he refused to sign off on the deal. In June, when the department was questioned by STATter911.com about a possible deal to help Chief Ellerbe with his retirement, the word from a spokesman was that Chief Rubin said there would be no special arrangements for Ellerbe. The fire department sources, who are not authorized to speak on this matter, indicated in December that Chief Rubin said he only recently had become aware that Assistant Chief Lee signed the exchange form.
Also on STATter911 …
- DC Chief Kenneth Ellerbe on why safer cotton shirts for firefighters are sitting in warehouse: ‘Sometimes there’s trickery in terms of one administration to another’. – March 9, 2012
- DC fire chief faced sexual harassment claim in Sarasota County, FL. Washington Times questions why Kenneth Ellerbe wasn’t fully vetted by Mayor Vincent Gray. – March 6, 2012
- UPDATE: DC firefighters receive official warning about protests at Mayor’s speech. Union president cites first amendment. Spokesman tells City Paper directive did not come from the chief, but tells Post it would be frowned upon. – February 6, 2012
- Chief Kenneth Ellerbe responds: Live interview this morning discussing sexual harassment claims when chief was in Florida. – March 8, 2012
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Dave I realize that your blog reports on issues that have been previously reported by other media, so this isnt about you, but the media as a whole.
Instead of focusing on Chief Ellerbe, why doesn’t the media focus on the real issues that seem to be non existent to the media, when in fact, documented evidence is brought to their attention to support those issues. The media is constantly going after the little issues which seem to be more news worthy to the viewer, rather than reporting on CORRUPT employees within the executive branch of the DC Government.
Even when they report on something like the NREMT alleged cheating, has any newsperson followed up?
No, but I have and hopefully the IG will kindly respond to my FOIA into the investigation. Anyone that initially reported on this story would know that Chief Rubin stated that they would get to the bottom of this very quickly…Hmmmmmm that was April 2009!!! The lapse in the time frame would be enough for someone to start asking ?’s.
Dennis Rubin, as it was reported in the Washington Examiner today, was ” clueless ” about the entire Sosua firetruck donation, but now there’s emails from Rubin to others about the donation in which he knew about the whole time.
Just because this guy gives a well rehearsed phony answer is more reason to ask more questions, rather than settling with the one and only answer he provides.
Dave,
It’s interesting that the following information was sent to your blog around 8:50 pm the same day that you posted the ‘resignation’ information which included Chief Rubin’s apparent lack of knowledge of Chief Ellerbe’s arrangement. It appears that Chief rubin did know about it and the attachment is a legitimate copy of an outlook calendar that refers to the meeting in Chief rubin’s office to discuss Chief Ellerbe’s departure!
Your reluctance to print or publish it smacks of either favoritism or one-sided journalism. Additionally, you allowed or posted a refernce that compared Chief Ellerbe’s arrangement with the circumstances that surrounded Lt. Joe Morgan’s situation. It’s really unfortunate that those who are ignorant of the true facts insist on reporting to an unsuspecting public information that is trusted as gospel when in fact it is not. Chief Ellerbe along with one other employee within the Fire Department fought long and hard to keep the administration from retiring Joe Morgan. In fact, Chief Ellerbe fell out of favor with the administration for his refusal to sign on to or advocate in any way for the retirement of Joe Morgan. Instead, he encouraged Lt. Morgan to pursue Instructor certification with the intent of keeping him at the Training Academy as an Instructor. Where were you and the rest of the nimble fingered journalists when he and members outside of the department were fighting for Joe Morgan’s professional life? It wasn’t sensational enough then for it to be a story on your radar, so, Joe was unceremoniously retired. Another thing that you don’t know is that when Joe was in the hospital, Chief Ellerbe made it a point to visit him there. Where were you Dave, once the story fell out of the headlines?
Another thing that you don’t know is that Chief Ellerbe, who was supposed to be on vacation and heading out of town when the page (that’s right we still used pagers then)regarding Cherry Road came in, was directly in front of Cherry Road when Joe Morgan stumbled out of, and was subsequently pulled out of the townhouse. Additionally, Chief Ellerbe is one of only four (4) people who actually know the real details of what happened that night!! His experience as a Fire Investigator and his presence on the scene and conversations with the Fire Fighters and officers on the scene was valuable, but ignored by the administration. Did anyone even question why he was moved from Acting Deputy (Fire Marshal) back to Battalion Fire Chief after serving in the position for almost six months?? Did you know that when many in the Fire Department wanted to place blame on Lt. Fred Cooper for the deaths of two African American fire fighters Chief Ellerbe visited Lt. Cooper at work and ensured him that it wasn’t his fault? Did you also know that when many of the African American members of the department blamed Lt. Cooper, Chief Ellerbe stood up for him and personally, on many occasions defended him in graphic detail, illustrating why it wasn’t his fault?
Chief Ellerbe is the only member of the department to sit through (witness from beginning to end) the last three of the department’s line-of-duty death autopsies. Did you know that Chief Ellerbe stormed into the command post on Kennedy Street, insisting that the ‘leaders’ allow the squad and truck companies to enter the building, drop a cellar pipe and 9X9 ladder into the hole in the floor that was created when Sgt. John Carter fell through the floor, and go get him? The squad was primed and ready to at least attempt to rescue their fallen comrade. If you understand the history of the department, the squad members are the original, true heroes in the fire department whose sole purpose was to rescue fire fighters. They were assembled and ready to at least try, but instead Chief Ellerbe was ordered out of the command post and asked to send the fire investigators to “go get Carter’s brother!” Chief Ellerbe later led the investigation on Kennedy street and can confirm that there was little to no fire damamge in the basement. All of the fire in the basement was confined to the underside of the floor. Sgt. Carter could have been rescued. Respectfully, I’ll not go any further regarding the incident except to say that he could have been rescued. Trust me, I know because I was there and am still angry about it. To top it off, they actually gave a medal to a guy who did absolutely nothing on the scene!!
For the record, I led young men and women for four years in one of the busiest companies in the country Dave, how about you? I served over 27 years and was NOT the person who initiated the employee exchange agreement. Nor was I the one who reneged on an agreement with another jurisdiction. You and others have no idea what has gone on, so, in the absence of fact, you’ve done what other yellow journalists have done..make it up as you go.
What I dislike most is watching all of the foolishness that has gone on, unabated as the media has turned a blind eye to it. In fact you don’t know much of anything and ignore the facts right in front of you. I’m thankful to the person who suggested that I go against my latest inclination to stop reading blogs that aren’t even worthy of the cyber thread they’re written on. I also appreciate the access to the outlook calendar, but, of course I already have it.
I’ve moved on, resigned rather than watch you and others shamelessly point to anything but the obvious. I haven’t given an interview and I won’t because that would mean that I trust the person who I’m talking to and there are very few truly honest journalists, concerned with the truth in D.C. I guess that’s what it takes to be a journalist at the Washington Post, huh?
Your comment is awaiting moderation
Anonymous says
ORGANIZER;CN=”Rubin, Dennis (FEMS)”:MAILTO:Dennis.Rubin@dc.gov
LOCATION:Chief Rubin’s Office
DTEND;TZID=”(GMT-05.00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)”:20090625T170000
DESCRIPTION:\N—–Original Appointment—–\NOrganizer: Nwaete\, Clothida
(FEMS) on behalf of Rubin\, Dennis (FEMS)\NSent: Thu 6/18/2009 2:30 PM\NRequired: Ellerbe\, Kenneth (FEMS)\; Lee\, Brian (FEMS)\NSubject: Meeting with Chief Ellerbe\NWhen: Thursday\, June 25\, 2009 4:30 PM-5:00 PM\NLocation: Chief Rubin’s Office\N\N\NDiscussion about possible move to another Department.\N\N
on January 29, 2010 @ 8:50 pm.
hookman,hookman,hookman,
Your obsession for Chief Dennis Rubin is quite disturbing and it seems to be clouding your judgement.Maybe you should seek professional help.
Wouldn’t your time be better spent finding a new job so that we don’t need to hear you complaining about matters that don’t concern you. The lack of support for you in this and other forums should be a clue to you. Get over it, YOU and your BIG MOUTH lost your job. Contrary to what you believe, there is not support for you within the DCFEMS. Get over it and move on!!
I think it is a shame that some keep their jobs in DCFD and we lose most of the good ones. Good Luck Chief Ellerbe in your new position. BTW Anonymous there is support for the Hookman in the DCFD…so Chief “Kool-aid” or whoever you are, try not to speak for the whole department. Thanks.
Okay now one part of the problem has been “corrected” what is the administration going to do about AFC Brian Lee, whose name was on this paper work, and for that matter, Bender Gregory who also signed this paperwork!
And I am with DCFF, Hookman has a lot of support because he is one of the few people who was brave enough to put his job on the line.
Anonymous #2 zero…you sound very bitter. Are you paranoid or concerned about your position or do I get under your skin because of what I post in different forums.
Its onething when someone disagrees with what I say, but since you like stalking me and what I talk about, you’ll know I don’t let anyone get to me.
Then there’s special people like you, that feel this sudden urge to respond in the manner in which you do.
Your probably the same zero that spilled diarhea out his mouth and got personal with me on thewatchdesk. If you are and I do know who you are, kindly take the advice I gave you in the message I sent you.
If not, don’t go away mad, just go away because when its said and done, ill be back to work and you’ll be the one looking from the outside in.
Thanks DCFF…I might not have the entire departments support, but I do have a lot and I’m grateful for all of it. I’m also grateful for certain people outside of the department who have helped me along the way. I never knew who they were before, but they reached out to me after my situation turned for the worse.
With that said, I find your reply to me precious, quite disturbing and my suggestion to you would be to call your Health Care provider and ask what your copay amount will be for a Metal Health evaluiation.
Mental
Thanks Poodles42…….I’d love to find out what other rules and regulations Bender Gregory has bent and signed off on,so Rubin,Lee and Schultz can continue to operate and get away with what anyone else normally would not be afforded.
Good Luck to Chief Ellerbe on your new position. We seem to have alot of HATERS out there droppin dime! I guess they couldn’t wait for the man to turn 50 so he can get his full pension and roll out. He should have been the DC Fire Chief, he’s better and smarter than the fool we got in there now! Oh I forgot, the Assistant fools would not have been the Assistants if that would have happend.
Good Luck Chief Ellerbe he is only one of a few who had integrity. Hookman you are right on point and sooner or later someone hopefully from D.O.J. Eric Holders office will take a look at the disparity in discipline and how it’s applied. Chief Dennis Rub In and Brian Keith Lee should be in JAIL they are corrupt individuals…..