LARGO – Fire Chief Jeffrey Bullock retired from the city fire rescue department April 29, just two days before the city planned to suspend him for misconduct.
Assistant City Manager Henry Schubert released a report on May 1 on the allegations against Bullock, who has been chief of the department since February 2005 and earned $102,000 a year.
Schubert is the one who leveled charges against Bullock and asked for an investigation by the city police department’s internal affairs office.
The report says the city received bids recently for “toppers” for the back of two fire department pickup trucks.
Toppers are covers for the open back section of the truck. They are used to protect the truck’s contents.
Two local suppliers gave Bullock bids for the equipment, including a topper for his personal pickup truck. Topper King offered $675 apiece for the two city-owned vehicles and $749 for Bullock’s, the report said.
A second business, Topper Town, bid $850 apiece for all three vehicles. Schubert said the city decided to buy from the higher bidder, Topper Town, because the equipment was deemed better than Topper King.
Firefighters, however, drove the trucks to Topper King to have the toppers installed. They were told, Schubert said, the dealer didn’t get the bid because it hadn’t offered Bullock enough discount on the topper for his own truck.
This information was relayed to Schubert and acting City Manager Norton “Mac” Craig and the investigation was launched.
Police took statements from everyone involved under oath.
Schubert said that everyone involved said Bullock had not asked for a special price for his truck alone, but that he had included it with the two city vehicles, gaining a discount for his own because of the number of vehicles being equipped.
The report said Bullock paid for his own topper, including state sales taxes. Schubert added that this didn’t cost the city any more money and might even have reduced the cost to the city because of the third vehicle.
Bullock admitted to investigators that he had violated the city code of conduct.
In his letter of resignation, Bullock didn’t refer to the charges.
He simply wrote, “I have an opportunity that will allow me to spend more time with my family. I would like to take advantage of it.”
Bullock’s retirement is officially effective May 23.
Schubert said he recommended a one-day suspension, without pay.
It was an appropriate discipline, Schubert said, considering the mitigating factors that the transaction did not increase the cost to the city and that Bullock has admitted his error.
But since Bullock has submitted his resignation and retirement from city employment, the suspension will not be imposed.
