Lt. Kelli Weeks was Ms. October, 2008, for a firefighter charity calendar.
Bourne, Massachusetts Lt. Kelli Weeks, at the center of the storm, is moving on. Capecodonline.com reports Lt. Weeks turned in her resignation a day after a disciplinary hearing was postponed for a third time. She is on paid administrative leave until the paper work is completed. The focus has been on Weeks since allegations she appeared on a video of a town drug surveillance while on duty.
Matthew Burke, who has been on the Bourne beat for months, breaks the news about the closing of this chapter of many months of controversy involving the fire department. Here are excerpts from today’s story:
Multiple town sources familiar with the negotiations said Weeks had cleaned out her locker at the department and had submitted her signed letter of resignation. The document still must be signed by other parties before it is official, (Town Counsel Robert) Troy said, which will most likely happen before Tuesday’s rescheduled disciplinary hearing.
It remains unclear whether Weeks will be given any severance or whether she will be able to apply for fire service jobs elsewhere. Troy said Weeks would be eligible for extended health benefits and money for accrued benefits.
Troy said that all of the issues between the fire department’s union and the town, and also between Weeks and the town, “had been worked out.” He said that once the resignation letter is signed by all parties it will become a public record. Troy said that town officials felt her resignation was “in the best interest of all parties.”
Weeks, 33, who came to the department in 2001, was promoted to lieutenant in 2006. Her 2008 salary was $72,059, according to town records. She is originally from Attleboro.
CapeCodOnline.com photo of Lt. Kelli Weeks.
Weeks has yet to comment on allegations levied against her by the police in November that she met with a suspected drug dealer while in uniform and on duty in May.Over the summer, Weeks’ fellow firefighters alleged a townwide cover-up, saying she was not sanctioned to be at the drug surveillance operation and also that public safety was at risk. Town officials originally denied the May incident had taken place, but reversed course after the Times obtained fire union logs that detailed years of alleged drug and/or alcohol abuse and also after no action was taken when the incidents were reported to the fire department and other town officials.
Weeks was placed on leave for several months but has been back with the department the past three months, fire officials have said. Since she has been back to work, her duties have changed, and new complaints about her behavior and work performance have been reported to town officials.
Weeks rushed away and declined to comment after her abbreviated disciplinary hearing Thursday afternoon.
