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Witnesses say a battalion chief was not at her computer when incriminating e-mails were sent.
By JAMIE JONES, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 19, 2003
Battalion Chief Cynthia O'Neal did not send inappropriate e-mails to co-workers at Pasco County Fire Rescue, an internal investigation has found.
Assistant Chief Christopher E. Alland wrote in a report released this week that O'Neal did nothing wrong. He believes someone is trying to embarrass O'Neal and hurt her reputation.
Alland began his investigation almost two weeks ago after several employees received e-mails from O'Neal's personal account. Alland believes someone broke into O'Neal's account and wrote the e-mails.
O'Neal, 36, provided witnesses who said she was not near a computer when the e-mails were sent.
The e-mails suggested O'Neal had given a firefighter answers to a promotional exam. Alland said O'Neal did not have access to the answers and she could not have helped anyone pass.
"There is no evidence that our promotional process has been compromised in any way," Alland wrote in the investigative report. "There is no evidence of any improper or inappropriate conduct while on duty by Chief O'Neal."
O'Neal supervises a battalion of firefighters on the north and central west side of Pasco County. Each shift has three battalions and O'Neal is in charge of one battalion on one shift. She has been with the department since April 1986.
"She's very respected and competent in her job," said Chief Anthony Lopinto.
-- Jamie Jones covers crime in Pasco County. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6245 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6245. Her e-mail address is jjones@sptimes.com.