Disciplinary charges were brought Tuesday against Columbus Division of Fire Chief Jeffrey Happ, stemming from a deadly July 2023 crash that involved a Columbus fire truck.
A letter signed by Columbus Department of Public Safety Director Kate Pishotti to Happ Tuesday said an independent investigation into the incident demonstrates "significant misfeasance and nonfeasance in the performance of your duties as Fire Chief," and that Happ had violated the city of Columbus Central Work Rule and Fire Division conduct rules.
The fire engine was was trying to cross the median in an emergency turnaround on I-270, near Hamilton Road in Gahanna, when it hit another vehicle.
A pickup truck driven by Timothy Wiggins, 63, then hit the back of the fire truck as it stuck out into the left lane. Wiggins died at the scene.
While the Columbus Division of Fire took no disciplinary action against Tyler Conners, the firefighter who was driving the engine, and enacted no policy changes in the wake of the crash, he was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and placed on administrative duty. Conners subsequently pleaded no contest in April 2024 with the judge suspending a 90-day jail sentence.
Conners was given two years of probation, 180 hours of community service, a $500 fine and his license was suspended for two years.
Happ was charged with neglect of duty and and a charge related to standards of conduct for supervisors, managers and administrators.
Pishotti's letter says Happ's hearing on the incident "was not conducted in an objective manner to determine if the actual facts of Firefighter Conners's case violated the policies of the City of Columbus but rather on subjective feelings of what discipline Chief Happ believed Firefighter Conners deserved."
"If handled properly, Firefighter Conners's conduct may have been found to violate multiple Columbus Division of Fire and City of Columbus policies, procedures and work rules," the letter said.
A meeting has been scheduled for December 16th for Happ to respond.
Pishotti has said legal settlements and replacing the fire engine have cost Columbus taxpayers nearly $2.2 million.
Happ could face suspension, demotion or termination.
