For the second time since the sick leave controversy surfaced in Clark County, Nevada a firefighter has been fired. The first woman to be promoted to battalion chief in the Clark County Fire Department, Renee Dillingham, is the latest to be terminated. Dillingham had been on the department for 24-years. According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, "Dillingham will be allowed to collect her pension and cash in unused sick leave and vacation."
Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak is leading the fight to expose the costly scheme by a group of 15 to 20 firefighters.
8 News Now obtained e-mails and calendars that showed fire department employees planned sick days in advance, so co-workers could collect thousands of dollars in overtime, call-back, and retirement pay. The abuse cost taxpayers and resulted in an investigation after it came to light.
"By taking a couple of sick days and a couple of vacation days, you get an entire month off, which is what some individuals unfortunately were doing." Sisolak said.
According to a July 2009 e-mail, Dillingham wrote, "Please do not post the August roster with sick. I have added the other roster for posting, and the sick is for you to take home."
Among other things, Dillingham is accused of creating a "sick time" calendar where other chiefs could sign up to take sick leave several weeks ahead of time.
This is just the county's investigation. A criminal investigation is also underway which could lead to charges for a number of the firefighters accused in the sick leave scandal.
In released emails, Dillingham received an email from Battalion Chief Gina Geldbach-Hall that said: "I will be taking off June 10, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25 (all sick days if I can work it out…). Again, thanks. It is so much nicer having a scheduler I can work with."
County officials believe the "SICK" roster was used to work out the use of sick days weeks or months ahead.
In 2010, Dillingham earned $274,309 in total wages and benefits. That included base pay of $93,000, $7,433 in sick-leave and about $29,000 in call-back pay, which is earned when a firefighter is called in to work within 12 hours of their last shift. Call-back pay equals overtime pay of time-and-a-half plus a county contribution to the employee's retirement account.
Also on STATter911 …
- Sick leave ‘abuse’ suddenly drops by 66-percent in Minneapolis FD. See how one fire chief solved problem only days after consultant’s report made newspaper headlines. – July 31, 2012
- Stabbing victim transported in DC fire truck New Year’s Eve. Ambulances & medic units not staffed. Lack of planning & high sick leave use cited. – January 2, 2013
- Buffalo union president admits to decades long practice of firefighters buying & selling overtime. City has asked for state & federal investigation. – November 22, 2011
- Is it fraud or mismanagement? DC Council member asks for another IG investigation following testimony of Chief Ellerbe on mechanics’ overtime. – February 28, 2013
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If these allegations are proven, she will probably forfeit her pension and will be looking at some time in jail for fraud. Was it really worth it?
Well I guess the Union contract has nothing about the use of sick time if I use 2 sick days in a row I need a doctors note.
Why in the world would they create a calender in advance knowing its illegal and stupid. They deserved to get caught they obviously didnt think it through.
And this kind of crap is what ticks off the taxpayers and makes them think that all public safety employees are overpaid and lazy and should have pension plans cut, etc.
Idiots
Like any other industry, we have our share of scammers and cheats. It makes us all look bad but it also lets the rest of us be aware of our actions. A few years back it was common in a certain large department for captains on the batt. Chief list to pay cahs to chiefs to retire early before the list expired. We have to establish a culture among our new firefighters that they hold the public trust and you have to think about what you do.
They got caught because it was in emails. Yep, it is faster and easier to plan extended vacations and the like, but it makes it easier to get caught doing it. I know several departments where this occurs. But carrying a paper calender is a little more secure sometimes… than electronic media.
Not to justify what she did but with all of the budget cutbacks, many departments have restricted or reduced the amount of annual leave available to employee's to the point where it is damn near immpossible to get a day off. Even on shiftwork there are times that you just need a day and can't find swaps. Taking off a whole month is an entirely different issue and should have been caught/stopped by the supervisors
Looks like a case of plain, simple greed. Way to go Clark County on the shiner you have given the rest of the hard working firefighters out here. I hope they take your pensions and throw you in jail too boot.
And most likely did it from her desk or dept issued tuff book…………….
Typical, pigs at the trough.
We have a policy that says if you take sick leave you forfeit your overtime for the pay period. This keeps employees from miss using there sick leave. Seems to work well.
Good for them… sounds like they were not in the profession for the right reason…. To be a firefighter. Many firefighters that take the job to be a firefighter use very little time compaired to "firefighters" that take the job for "the time off" for "the security of the job" etc. It is tuff not being able to get off for kids ball games and other events but I knew this when I took the job and that is part of being a firefighter…. So to the ones that got caught abusing sick leave SEE YA! K
Strike the Box! K
My 2 cents from Calif.
I agree the Fire Service got the "Thumb in the Eye" by one or more "Dirt Bags" in Clark Co. Nevada. By their actions WE all get looked at by the Citizens and "Lumped" into the same group, in some instances. As far as this BC, she's getting what she deserves.
All involved hould be prosecuted for Fraud and made to make financial restitution where applicable.
"Scooter" you're correct. I only use my Vacation Time off. I'm about two years "Short" of Retirement, and I've got over One years worth of Sick Time on the Books afetr 27 years.
It seems a most unfortunate situation where a Battalion Chief has been caught doing the opposite of the core values of what Fire and EMS is all about. What is truely more disgusting is, a Female. How long a Career time and how diificult has it been for Women in the Fire and EMS Service to be acknowledged and recognized as equal in Training and job ability to their Male counter parts? At the very least this disgraceful demonstration of a total lack of Professionalism and Accountability is a set back to Women in the Fire and EMS Service everywhere. That is not to say stereotype all women in the Public Safety/Fire and EMS Service is wrong. What is somewhat unrealistic why,how,when,who didnot someone within the Senior Command Staff Level didnot catch the amount of Sick Leave taken. ie; Was the Sick Leave taken well in advance noting a Pay Day near or on Pay Day Weekend? Was the sick leave taken in any form of specific days, nights, times such as previously mentioned? Someone at some point and time within the Department Management Staff failed to notice and/or question the frequency of sick leave taken. The fact that sick leave was scheduled in advance during any given monthly time frame, was any social event to be held in Las Vegas where the Battalion Chief and/or her friends and/or co partners wanted to attend? Perhaps there wasnot any regular Annual and/or Comp Leave available at those dates and times. There are a lot of issues,questions to be addressed. Hopefully the actual real Truth can/will be brought to light. Whatever the excuses that may be offered, there is not any Legitimate reason for this shameful act of no,work ethic nor consideration as to the overall functions of the Fire and EMS Dept. This Battalion Chief has brought shame and disgrace not only to her Female Firefighters who work everyday to improve their proficiency and job skills/knowledge, but also to the entire Clark County Fire and EMS Dept. The sense of urgency here, "Where was the Management and Oversite of this ugly mess when it involves Employee (s) Pay and any Overtime to back fill position (s) when sick leave was taken?"
Thank You
Regarding your comment about the BC's gender, yes, it's disgusting that she has set back the women's cause here, but on the other hand, it shows that being a greedy, self-serving bastard is not solely a male domain anymore. I'm not trying to be facetious, just saying that the women seems to be achieving equality in the less desirable areas as well.