Sagle Fire lays off its chief

SAGLE — Sagle Fire District Chief Robert Webber was laid off on Monday.

Rob Goodyear, chairman of the district’s board of commissioners, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Webber, the district’s chief since 2010, said he was being laid off as part of a departmental restructuring that was aimed at cutting costs and ensuring continued employment for firefighters hired under a federal Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response grant.

“The reason given (for the layoff) was to be able to use the funding from my position to pay for a part-time fire chief and to pay for the three firefighters that are currently being paid for by SAFER grant money,” said Webber.

Webber added that he was not offered the position of part-time chief. He had  no further comment.

The grant funding dries up in August.

Webber’s release caught other chiefs in Bonner County off guard.

“I’ve had nothing but good experiences with Chief Webber,” said Sam Owen Fire District Chief Bob Wathen. “From my point of view he’s done a great job out there.”

Bonner County EMS Chief Rob Wakeley also had high praise for Webber, even though his department and Sagle Fire have been at odds with one another over funding and policy issues.

Bonner County was poised in 2012 to withdraw Sagle’s EMS contract because the district too tied up on fire-related calls to respond to every service call for EMS. The district also objected to policies involving the county ambulance stationed in Sagle.

“Since then, Sagle Fire has performed under their contract — I’ve said it in public several times — in an exemplary manner,” Wakeley said.

Despite the discord, Wakeley and Webber went on to become friends, which Wakeley said was a testament to Webber’s integrity.

While Webber’s layoff is apparently being portrayed as a business decision, others in the public safety committee contend he is getting hosed to minimize damage from an expected lawsuit from a firefighter who alleges that she was sexually harassed by a superior.

Former firefighter Katie Loper filed a $1 million claim for damages against the district in 2013. Loper accused Capt. Jason Cordle of stalking her after the demise of a romantic relationship.

Loper further accused Goodyear, the district’s former chief, of attempting to cover up the allegations and said in the claim that Webber attempted to break the pattern of harassment when he was hired.

Loper’s counsel, Hayden attorney Lawrence Beck, represented a Coeur d’Alene Police Department officer who claimed he was constructively fired. The officer was awarded a $3.2 million judgment against the city which was upheld last year by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.