Fire inspectors retire abruptly

The pair are under investigation, accused of accepting gifts of hockey tickets and more.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE, Times Staff Writer
Published December 18, 2007

TAMPA - Two veteran fire inspectors ended their careers Monday, retiring amid an inquiry into allegations they accepted unauthorized gifts from a sprinkler company and submitted false information on their timecards.

The men, Toy K. Pelaez and Manuel T. Perrone, were scheduled for a pre-disciplinary hearing Monday.

Instead, they submitted their notice of separation papers, effective at noon that day, officials said.

The men will receive their pensions, accrued annual leave and a portion of their sick leave, fire officials say.

"This ends it for us," said Fire Chief Dennis Jones.

He added that he hopes the agency can return to its regular daily business without the "distractions" caused by the case.

A criminal investigation is ongoing, according to Tampa police.

A police spokeswoman was incorrect when she told a reporter Friday that the investigation was finished.

Pelaez and Perrone, longtime employees in the Fire Marshal's Office, received gifts from AES, a sprinkler system company, according to a notice of disciplinary action.

The men were in charge of reviewing and regulating the company's work plans and permits, according to the notice.

The notice states that Perrone, 44, was accused of accepting concert and hockey tickets from AES and entry fees for golf tournaments. He was also accused of using a 30-foot Sea Ray boat made available by AES president Greg Thomas.

Pelaez, 47, was accused of accepting, three or four times in one year, hockey tickets bought by AES or its employees and calling an AES employee to ask for hockey tickets, according to the disciplinary notice.

Time cards for both men show discrepancies, the disciplinary notice states.

AES attorney John Lauro released a statement Monday, saying that AES fully cooperated with the investigation and did not violate any law.

Neither Perrone nor Pelaez could be reached for comment.

Their collective bargaining agreement bars them from speaking publicly about the case, according to a statement from fire officials.

Abbie VanSickle can be reached at vansickle@sptimes.com or 813-226-3373.

[Last modified December 18, 2007, 00:47:47]