Advertisement

One of three Clearwater Fire & Rescue chief candidates eliminated

 
Published Sept. 30, 2016

CLEARWATER — One of the three candidates for Clearwater Fire & Rescue chief was eliminated Friday over concerns about the circumstances of his departure from his last job.

Communications Director Joelle Castelli said the city found questionable details about Christopher Riley's March retirement from the Colorado Springs Fire Department. She said Colorado Springs officials are prohibited from disclosing the circumstances.

Riley received an $80,000 severance even though his employment agreement stated he was not eligible for severance if he resigned, left voluntarily or was terminated with cause, the Colorado Springs Gazette reported.

That leaves John Caufield, the National Fire Protection Association's mid-Atlantic regional director, and Scott Ehlers, Clearwater Fire & Rescue division chief of emergency management, as the two finalists.

One will replace Chief Robert Weiss, who is retiring in November.