Above is Part 1 of the April 1, 2009 hearing. Click for Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.
Report by the Committee for Public Safety & the Judiciary
Report by the Committee for Government Operations & the Environment
Click here and scroll down for our previous coverage of the Sosua controversy
The two District of Columbia City Council reports released late last week looking into a controversial, aborted deal to donate a fire engine and ambulance to a resort town in the Dominican Republic have reporters taking a second look at the April 1, 2009 testimony of Chief Dennis Rubin. While the testimony thrust Chief Rubin into the limelight early on, making him the face of the growing controversy (not that anyone else was taking responsibility for the mess), in the end, the role of the DC Fire & EMS Department was almost secondary and not the main issue for those critical of the arrangement to use a non-profit group as a middle-man to broker the deal.
But, that doesn’t mean the role of Chief Rubin didn’t raise a few eyebrows once the reports were released. The reports include emails and other information showing that Rubin was aware and involved in the various forms of the planned donation going back to November, 2007. Eighteen months later, the chief told Committee for Public Safety and the Judiciary Chairman Phil Mendelson that he knew very little about the deal and was “clueless”.
That testimony had some very heated and pointed exchanges between Mendelson and Rubin. You may also recall during that hearing Chief Rubin said a number of times “I take full responsibility”, but Mendelson was skeptical and ultimately correct that the responsibility for the deal actually belonged elsewhere in the administration of Mayor Adrian Fenty.
Two reporters who have covered this controversy from the start, have taken a closer look at the fire chief’s testimony in light of the council reports and wondered if the chief failed to tell the truth under oath. Each article was published Friday.
Fire Chief Dennis Rubin was directly involved in the District’s donation of emergency vehicles to the Dominican Republic, newly released e-mails show, but the chief claimed under oath to know very little days after the deal fell apart.
Later in the day, Washington City Paper’s Mike DeBonis followed-up on what Neibauer started with a column titled Did Fire Chief Dennis Rubin Perjure Himself? Nope.
DeBonis, who writes the column Loose Lips (LL), further dissects the exchanges during the April 1 testimony and how they relate to the emails provided in the report. His conclusion:
… from what LL sees, there’s nothing that would indicate the Rubin ever intentionally lied to Phil Mendelson’s public safety and judiciary committee.
As for Phil Mendelson’s take, he tells DeBonis, it’s not clear cut:
The at-large councilmember passed on the question of whether Rubin lied under oath, calling it “not clear-cut.” Mendelson said he’d reviewed the tape in the course of his committee’s investigation but did so some time ago.
“I’ve thought about this quite a bit, and I don’t have an answer,” he says. “It is a good question.”
Also on STATter911 …
- Dennis Rubin sues DC over retirement. Councilmember Mendelson scoffs at The Rube wanting more money. – December 7, 2011
- DC update: Is Chief Ellerbe fire proof? Watch hearing live. Relatives of patients in high-profile cases scheduled to testify. – March 28, 2013
- Video: Citizen who lost son praises EMS response but blasts DC firefighters. Tells hearing they are ‘terrorists’ trying to make Chief Ellerbe look bad. – April 1, 2013
- The latest from your Nation’s Capital: Mayor backs fire chief after article on sexual harassment claims. $70,000 in shirts that are safer for firefighters but have the wrong logo sit in warehouse. – March 8, 2012
Comments
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The whole department should be investigated by Eric Holders office and Chief Dennis Rub In is a joke. The disciplinary system seems to be only for certain individuals!!!!
How about the fact that the DFC of Apparatus took a volunteer from PG to the Dominican Republic with him? What was the purpose of that ? Did DC government and the taxpayers foot the bill for that?
Why Chief Rubin took the job in DC, I can understand. He probably felt like this was a challenge that would take an organization in turmoil and help it evolve into a great place to work and an example of best practice. From what I can see, he has landed in a toxic environment from all sides and there’s no winning regardless of what he does. I can only say that if he can pull off a success with what he has got to deal with there, then he will be considered a miracle worker. Good luck…
Eric Holders office…. what an idiot. Holder is a “Q”, Fenty is a “Q” and so are some Fire Department officials. What would that accomplish except more lies. Next solution please!
Mick…your reply shows how very little know you know about the DCFD and how little you know about what this clown and his Assistant Fire Chiefs have turned the department into.
You must be one of the fools who paid your registration fee to see Rubin speak and have been mesmorized ever since, by this phonies well rehearsed talk.Except for those that cling to this mans loins, I’m quite sure a comment like yours would never come out of any DC Firemans mouth.
Actually Mick, your’e just about on the mark. This department was one of the finest in the nation at one time. Unfortunatly for us, when Chief Rubin came he was still living in the past. Little did he know that the department was now full of misfits and malcontents. Chief Rubin is a good, honorable man. As for you Hookman, your’e no better now then the day you got hired. The good people in the DCFEMS do not support you or your’e antics. It doesn’t take balls to run your mouth like you do, it’s actually takes stupidity. Now who’s on the outside looking in? By the way, I hear there is a new Dollar Store opening up out in WVA, maybe you should apply there, I hear they have good health insurance.
As much as I hate to admit it Hookman hit the nail on the head. I was just thinking the other day how I haven’t seen a scandal with the Rube neck deep in it for a few weeks now. I think he set a new personal record.
Well one thing we do know, you ain’t a DC Fireman anymore so why should anyone listen to you loser. Go back to your Loudon County duty crew, oh wait, you got thrown out of there to. What lucky department is next on your traveling road show?
I’m always amazed at what some individuals think they know about someone or when they have their feelings hurt by the truth, they’ll go out of there way to find out where a person lives to who knows what else. Hopefully knowing the state one resides fulfills your unstable pea sized brain, because you would have a very bad day if you came knockin at or near my home.If for some reason you want to comeout of the anonymous hole your hiding in, I’d be more than glad to sit down and talk to you about your issues. Since you like stalking me and your so upset over what I say precious, tell us all who you are. Nah don’t worry its ok, stay anonymous, I don’t need anymore problems from cowardly women.
And stalker #2..due to raising my son and some other things going on in my life,I didn’t have the time to run there anymore. I never was kicked out of there, I just stopped showing up. So after a year or so, one of the nice career fireman gathered my things and brought them to my home. You would be proud to know how many Leesburg Volunteers there are in DC now, after donating my shirts and jackets to keep the homeless warm. Though I voiced my displeasure at the direction my VFD was going in, wasn’t the reason for why I’m no longer there. I know it must feel exhilerating to have posted what you did, but If it makes your insides feel better believe in whatever your mind tells you ok.
Mick
You paint a picture of the DCFD of one of disfunction. Have a dwelling fire here and one in your first due judged by an unbiased panel and I’ll show you an example of “best practice.”
Your manpower, response time, and a myriad of other fireground functions can’t begin to come close. Chief Rubin did not contribute to that delivery and it is not one of “turmoil.”