Caldwell Fire Chief Suspended Over Letter

City Fire Chief Bruce Allcott is suspended this week without pay following a letter he wrote about a proposed mobile home park.

Mayor Dick Winder said it is city policy not to talk about personnel issues.

But some question if Allcott was suspended for political reasons.At the request of attorney William Gigray III, who represents neighbors of the park, Allcott and Police Chief Doug Law answered a questionnaire asking if city services could handle the development.

The questionnaire asked department heads if the city could “optimally” respond to emergencies.

Both Law and Allcott wrote the city’s services already are burdened, and another development would stretch them further.

Allcott said the city would need to increase the manpower at the fire department before it could provide the best service for future growth.

Winder has had a rocky relationship with the city’s firefighters over contract negotiations.