A Pinellas Park firefighter since 1973, now a lieutenant, refuses to take sobriety tests.
By ANNE LINDBERG
Published August 11, 2004
PINELLAS PARK - A fire lieutenant was arrested and accused early Monday morning of drunken driving.
Frederick Rankin Ferguson, 52, of St. Petersburg, was stopped along 54th Avenue N in Kenneth City about 1:10 a.m. Monday when an officer noticed the taillight on his motorcycle was out, Kenneth City police Chief Jim Ernst said Tuesday.
When Ferguson got off his motorcycle, he was unsteady on his feet, his eyes were bloodshot and watery, and Officer Michael Vieno noticed the odor of alcohol on his breath, the chief said.
Ferguson refused to take a Breathalyzer and later refused further testing at the Pinellas County Jail, said Ernst.
"He stated to the effect that he wouldn't perform the field sobriety test because "Why should I prove to you that I've had too much to drink?' That was the basic statement he made," Ernst said.
Refusing to take the sobriety tests means Ferguson's license could be suspended for up to a year.
Ferguson has worked for the Pinellas Park Fire Department since July 1973. He currently earns about $57,100 a year as a lieutenant at Station 33, according to city records.
He could not be reached for comment.
Pinellas Park fire Chief Ken Cramer referred questions about Ferguson to city spokesman Tim Caddell. Cramer said only, "He's an excellent . . . officer. At this point, his case is being reviewed by personnel and the department."
Caddell did not provide requested information Tuesday.
This is not the first incident involving alcohol and Pinellas Park firefighters in the past few years.
In 2000, then-City Manager Jerry Mudd was swayed by the pleas of 30 firefighters in deciding not to dismiss firefighter Joe Greene. Greene temporarily lost his license for refusing a breath test after he crashed his car. He later pleaded no contest to drunken driving.
Mudd suspended Greene for a month without pay.
Last year, just days before New Year's, firefighters, paramedics and friends held a party to celebrate David Alan Veler's successful completion of the one-year probationary period for new employees.
Another firefighter, Richard Hauser, called in sick in order to go to the party. Moonshine, whiskey and beer were served at the event.
About 10 p.m., sheriff's deputies were called to break up a fight between Veler and Hauser. No arrests were made.
Veler left the party and soon returned by cab with an aluminum softball bat and bashed Hauser in the head, according to deputies. Veler was later charged with aggravated battery, a second-degree felony.
He resigned before Pinellas Park officials could fire him.
In April, City Manager Mike Gustafson delayed a decision to dismiss firefighter Stephen M. Ulland, who was charged with drunken driving.
While Ulland waited for a decision, he had to remain on probation for an extra six months and had to meet seven criteria. Those included entering a substance abuse program and submitting to random drug and alcohol testing.
At the time, Gustafson said he was considering changing the city's drug and alcohol policy.
Under the current policy, firing is the typical option, but the city manager can opt for a lesser discipline. Under the new policy that Gustafson envisioned, employees would have a chance to make one mistake. But the employee would have to undergo counseling, testing and other conditions to make sure the offense was not repeated.
It is unclear if the policy has been changed.
In an unrelated personnel action, Gustafson has said he wants to fire a street maintenance employee who was accused of urinating in public.
Glenn R. Isbrecht, 50, "evidently . . . was urinating on Park Boulevard and 56th or 57th Street," city spokesman Caddell said. Caddell said he had no further information.
Isbrecht has worked for the city since August 1990 and earns about $15 an hour.
Isbrecht has appealed the firing. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
