Mass Resignation of North College Hill Firefighters in Ohio

In a shocking turn of events, more than a dozen veteran firefighters in North College Hill, Ohio, have tendered their resignations, citing unresolved issues and a perceived lack of accountability. The mass resignation, which will take effect on March 17, will see about 75% of the North College Hill Fire Department stepping down from their positions.

Among those resigning are the fire chief, two deputy chiefs, a lieutenant, and the majority of the most senior and experienced firefighters and paramedics in the department. The departures will result in the loss of nearly 170 years of combined service.

Following the resignations, there will only be 10 active-duty firefighters left out of the 25 that make up the current department, which serves the city’s 9,556 residents. The firefighters expressed their concerns in a post on the department’s Facebook page, stating that they had tried multiple times to have their issues addressed by the city government but to no avail.

City’s Response to the Resignation

The city of North College Hill issued a statement expressing their surprise at the mass resignation and confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation into the concerns raised by the fire department. However, the results of the investigation did not provide the outcome the firefighters were looking for.

The city assured residents that there would be no interruption to the city’s fire service and that they are actively working to address the situation. They also mentioned that they have excellent mutual aid partners in Hamilton County who are willing to assist in ensuring the safety and well-being of residents.

Concerns Raised by Firefighters

In a letter obtained by WXIX from North College Hill’s law director, the firefighters cited several reasons for their resignation, including concerns over the poor performance and hostile actions of two city officials. The letter specifically mentioned the city’s top administrator, Jennifer Ekey, and a human relations clerk, Debra Eldridge, whose actions had a devastating effect on morale, recruitment, and day-to-day operations.

The firefighters stated that they could no longer tolerate the personal toll of the continued distress caused by the actions of Ekey and Eldridge. They also expressed their belief that the safety of residents was at great risk due to the unresolved issues within the department.

City Council Meeting and State Investigation

The North College Hill City Council held a special meeting to address the mass resignations, but no official action was taken, and the meeting was adjourned immediately. The city’s law director, William Deters II, insisted that the meeting was scheduled to discuss issues with the fire department before the resignations.

In addition to the internal issues within the fire department, North College Hill has been facing challenges regarding the accuracy and reporting of the city’s financial activity and accounting. The city struggled to retain a permanent financial director and was deemed “unauditable” in 2022 by the Office of the Ohio Auditor of State due to inadequate records.

Furthermore, a state investigation is underway regarding an alleged misuse of public money in North College Hill. The investigation began last year over concerns regarding timesheet “cheating” by a member of the city’s police department. The State Auditor’s Office Special Investigations Unit has secured 117 convictions for fraud on 214 charges, with total findings exceeding $20.5 million.