NORTH LAS VEGAS (KSNV MyNews3) – A representative of the North Las Vegas firefighters union said this afternoon that Fire Chief Al Gillespie was placed on administrative leave after he refused to implement what he determined were dangerous cuts in 911 response.
The moves come two weeks after North Las Vegas City Manager Timothy Hacker laid off Deputy Chief Kevin Brame, who served as the No. 2 person in the department.
North Las Vegas spokeswoman Juliet Casey confirmed both personnel moves and said that Jeff Buchanan was selected Thursday as the acting fire chief.
“Both Brame and Gillespie saw the danger in these cuts to services to 911 response that Hacker had dictated,” said Jeff Hurley, president of North Las Vegas Firefighters Local 1607, in a statement provided by Fierro Communications.
“These two professionals literally have a lifetime of experience in fire services in major cities and could not support decisions that they felt were unwise and would destroy the minimal safety net provided by a Fire Department.”
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