Dismissed firefighters present petition, ask for reinstatement



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Two firefighters who were released following a vandalism incident at a north-side firehouse made an appearance before the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission Friday, October 25th in an effort to be reinstated with the Milwaukee Fire Department.

Nathan Fager and Joey Siegert presented the commission with a petition containing 1,253 signatures to get their jobs back.

"Thank you very much for bringing these in. I'm going to forward them to the Citizen Board and the Fire and Police Commission and they will definitely take a look at them," said Mike Tobin, Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission Director.

The two men were probationary members of the department until earlier this month when they were dismissed, along with seven other members of Engine 32. All nine are accused of being at the station in late September when it was vandalized by fire personnel.

Sources tell FOX6 that at least some of the nine dismissed firefighters defecated on personal equipment, urinated in or on lockers, and allegedly placed a dead mouse in one locker.

Fager and Siegert say they hope the petition will help their cause.

"We always want the community members to inform us what they think about our actions. We want to see the petitions," said Tobin. "When the fire chief makes decisions like this, on personnel matters, we rely on his judgement and on his perspective. And when we make decisions on probationary employees, we look at the job performance."

A Milwaukee Fire Department Administrator tells FOX6 the decision to dismiss Fager and Siegert involved consideration of their entire probationary term, including the alleged vandalism for which they were present.

The Administrator says the department is adhering to that decision.