EDMOND — Assistant Fire Chief Tim Wheeler has been fired after being on paid administrative leave for nearly a year.
“Tim's employment was terminated for cause by me,” City Manager Larry Stevens said. “It would be inappropriate for me to say any more.”
Stevens would not comment on the reasons for the termination or why the city's criminal and administrative investigations lasted so long. He said the investigation did not lead to criminal charges.
Jim Moore, Wheeler's attorney, called the firing “ridiculous” and the investigation “shoddy.”
“It was a far-fetched allegation initiated by another employee who was being disciplined,” Moore said. “His reputation has been smeared for the last year, and now he has a chance to be heard.”
Wheeler plans to file a grievance with the local firefighters' union.
A grievance committee will determine whether Wheeler has a legitimate claim, which should go before an arbitrator who would rule whether he should get his job back.
Wheeler on Friday referred all questions to his attorney.
