Perryville fire chief fired after investigation

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Perryville's fire chief has now lost his job in the fallout from the investigation into stolen city property.

The city's board of aldermen made a unanimous decision March 20 to dismiss fire chief Charlie LaRose.

LaRose had already been removed from his position as water/wastewater superintendent, along with three other public works employees, coinciding with a city investigation into the theft of scrap metal owned by the city. Other fired employees are Chris Favier, James Thompson and Carl Davis.

However, no charges have been filed against any of the fired men more than a month after suspicions surfaced.

City administrator Brent Buerck informed the board of aldermen in closed session Feb. 21 that four employees allegedly took wire from a city facility to a recycling center in St. Louis "for personal profit." After an internal investigation headed by Perryville police chief Keith Tarrillion, the workers were fired March 6.

LaRose was elected fire chief by the Perryville volunteer fire department and held the position at the same time as his office in public works. The Perryville code of ordinances, according to city administrator Brent Buerck in meeting minutes, permits the mayor to relieve the fire chief of his duties and the fire department's bylaws allow firefighters to vote on a new fire chief.

According to the Perry County Republic-Monitor, Buerck said after the decision that the retirement benefits of vested employees would not be negatively affected by their dismissal. LaRose had been employed by the city for 35 years and fire chief since 2003.

The value of the stolen materials was estimated by Tarrillion to be $6,500 or more. City attorney Tom Ludwig advised Tarrillion to begin a criminal investigation, which is ongoing. As of Friday, criminal charges had not been filed.

Fire department employees will vote in a new chief by paper ballot in May. Representatives at the department were not available for comment Friday afternoon.

LaRose could not be reached for comment Friday.

salderman@semissourian.com

388-3648

Pertinent address:

Perryville, MO