Firehouse ruling appealed

Photo: Contributed

The City of Vernon is appealing an order to reinstate a member of Vernon Fire Rescue Service who was fired last year for having sex on the job.

A brief statement from the city issued Thursday afternoon said, “The City has filed an application to the Labour Relations Board appealing the order of the Arbitration Board to reinstate Mr. Bond to the workplace. The City has also filed an application to stay the implementation of the order pending the Labour Board’s review.”

Cpt. Brent Bond was fired last year after he was captured by a hidden surveillance camera on March 25, 2018 having sex with a non-firefighter personnel.

Last month, the city was ordered to reinstate the two employees.

The order was made by a majority of an arbitration board convened to hear a grievance brought forward by the B.C. International Association of Fire Fighters.

The fire captain and dispatcher were caught on a surveillance camera placed in the chief's office for another matter during a turbulent time in the department's history in which tensions were high between management and union members.

“Our emergency personnel have a duty to serve our taxpayers and respond with all due diligence, not to be distracted from their duties by engaging in sexual relations in the firehall when on shift. Lives depend on rapid response. Engaging in sexual activity rather than managing the platoon is absolutely unacceptable,” said Will Pearce, chief administrative officer for the city at the time of the ruling.

“I am most disappointed in the majority decision. It sends entirely the wrong message to fire personnel across the country and to staff of the City of Vernon. It is not now and will never be acceptable or ethical for a direct supervisor to engage in a sexual relationship with junior and subordinate staff. The City of Vernon has an employee code of ethics, known by both employees, that requires staff to maintain the highest ideals of honour and integrity in public and business relationships and not to act in any way that would detract from the image of integrity or professionalism of the City of Vernon.”