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OCN > 2409 > Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, Aug. 21 – Board action criticized; fire chief contract terminated; second investigation initiated

Black Forest Fire/Rescue Protection District, Aug. 21 – Board action criticized; fire chief contract terminated; second investigation initiated

By Natalie Barszcz

At the Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District (BFFRPD) meeting on Aug. 21, the board received criticism from attendees and pleas for fairness during public comments, and it held an executive session to receive advice from legal counsel Linda Glesne of Cockrel Ela Glesne Greher & Ruhland, P.C. (CEGR) Law relating to the status of a third-party investigation into the complaints received against Fire Chief PJ Langmaid. The board held an additional executive session to discuss a personnel matter involving the fire chief.

After the board returned to the regular session, Langmaid’s contract as fire chief was terminated, and the board approved the hiring of an interim fire chief and a second investigation into the allegations brought against Deputy Chief of Operations Chris Piepenburg and Training Capt. Michael Torres during the investigation of Langmaid.

Langmaid and his attorney, Ian Kalamanowitz of Cornish & Dell’Olio PC law firm, attended the meeting.

Staff complaints addressed

Background: The board held an emergency special meeting on July 1 to convene an executive session with legal counsel after the board received emails from staff members citing allegations against Langmaid on June 28, June 30, and July 1. The board placed Langmaid on paid administrative leave and approved that legal counsel engage a third-party investigator to initiate and lead a comprehensive investigation into the allegations made against Langmaid and the claims and issues brought forward about the command staff and overall leadership culture within the department. The board unanimously approved limiting the actions of the command staff to operational needs.

At its July 17 board meeting, after receiving the preliminary findings of a third-party investigation, the board directed district counsel to proceed with a 360-degree investigation over a variety of matters brought to the board. CEGR Law retained Flynn Investigations Group to facilitate the investigation, and the board placed Piepenburg and Torres on paid administrative leave. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n8bffrpd.

Public comments request fair treatment

Before moving into executive session at the Aug. 21 meeting, the board called for an additional public comments section and received the following responses:

  • April Piepenburg, wife of Chris Piepenburg, said the following: “For the past 20 years, I have watched my husband pour his heart into the fire service, demonstrating unwavering dedication and selflessness, with a commitment beyond emergency response, and he is committed to stand by his fellow firefighters, valuing their wellbeing and safety both inside and outside the station. This commitment stems not from obligation, but from his genuine character. So, when a serious issue was brought to his attention involving the fire chief, he did the right thing and promptly reported the incident to the board. Unfortunately, this act of integrity resulted in an unjust and painful backlash. The board has cast doubt on his character and integrity, deeply damaging his hard-earned reputation in the fire service. Chris has faced humiliation via two local news outlets and three nationally recognized fire service publications that included false, unsubstantiated and biased attacks on both Chris and Capt. Torres with allegations made directly by a board member.
    • “Their work with educators and firefighters across the county has also been tainted by this scandal, spreading the damaging news far and wide, by lumping them into the same category with the fire chief who is the focus of this investigation. By placing Chris and Capt. Torres on administrative leave you have called into question their integrity, by implying they would have influence over staff during the investigation. In doing so, you have called into question the integrity of every member of staff has also been called into question suggesting they can be swayed into providing dishonest answers. Integrity is the corner stone of any organization, a core value adopted by the department, without integrity there is no credibility, without credibility there is no trust, and without trust there is no lasting success. By prioritizing personal relationships with the fire chief and focusing on punching the whistleblowers, rather than addressing misconduct, you send a clear message to the organization, their concerns are secondary.
    • “This approach not only undermines trust and signals that future issues will be met with retaliation and humiliation rather than resolved with fairness and integrity. As a result, the board has cultivated a climate of fear among firefighters, where speaking up and seeking help is met with intimidation, job insecurity, and public humiliation. Do you want a leader who stands firmly and fights for what is right or someone who will sweep issues under the rug to protect their own interest? Deputy Chief Piepenburg and Capt. Torres were fighting for their people, she said. See KRDO 13 https://krdo.com/news/2024/08/14/black-forest-fire-captain-claims-retaliation-after-being-put-on-leave-while-chief-is-investigated/
  • Yvette Torres, the wife of Training Capt. Michael Torres, said, “I am here representing and supporting my husband who was banned from the grounds and cannot speak on his own behalf. I am hoping to get some answers to the questions that Mike, myself and my family cannot seem to get.”
    • She said the following: “Personnel reported claims against the chief to Capt. Torres, who reported the claims via the chain of command to Deputy Chief Piepenburg, who then reported the claims to the board. At the July 17 board meeting the meeting concluded with a shocking decision to place both Mike and Chris on paid administrative leave, this transpired at 10 p.m. Mike was not present at the meeting having already left the meeting, and he was not informed by any board member or administrative staff that he was placed on paid administrative leave. On the evening of July18 at 7 p.m. he received a letter informing him he was not the focus of the investigation and would remain on paid administrative leave for an unknown duration during the process of the fire chief’s investigation. He was told by the investigator he would keep him updated; a month later he has not heard from anyone. How are these incompetencies being allowed? Where is the accountability? How do you put someone on paid administration leave and not provide them with a reason that is relevant to them. How do you place someone on paid administrative leave in good faith for the crimes of another? How do you leave the firefighters and officers without leadership, especially the very leadership that brought the allegations forward?
    • “The line members’ turnover rate has and will continue to be high and Black Forest will continue to lose good people if they do not feel supported, and have firsthand seen that when someone does stands up to protect them, they are retaliated against. How is it okay that taxpayer money is being wasted so brazenly, as most of the administrative personnel are on paid leave, and now third-party officers are provided coverage? In blogs and newspaper articles questions are being raised if the third-party individuals are being paid and why those individuals were chosen versus companies closer to Black Forest such as Falcon and Monument? How will it affect the future and future budget of the department? How do you disregard the lives of people like Mike and Chris who it is not just a job, this is their lives? Mike brought personal props, tools, and equipment to the department to allow him to give the best training to Black Forest firemen, but due to being banned from the grounds he has been denied access to those items that are his. When he has brought this up he hasn’t gotten responses, and continues to be treated as if he is the criminal being investigated. Both Mike and Chris pride themselves on making the fire service and Black Forest Fire Department a better and safer place yet both are on administrative leave which is tarnishing their reputations, while they have done nothing wrong.
    • “How does Black Forest feel knowing that the Fire Department regulations are not up to date due to Mike being banned from the grounds which has led to personnel not having appropriate training, being up to date on state required certifications, and taxpayer money again being blatantly wasted and abused. Why are you treating these men as criminals? And Jim, how are you going to the press, slandering their names and ruining their reputations? How can you all in good conscious think all of this is okay, and what are you going to do to make it right?” said Torres.
  • Yvonne Krcmer, speaking on behalf of her son-in-law, Michael Torres, said, “In all of the years I have known Michael I have always been impressed with his work ethic and passion for the fire service. He is a hardworking, loyal, dedicated, honest, and compassionate person. He has always put his heart and soul into fighting fires and helping his fellow firefighters in any way that he possibly can Through his many years of extensive training, he has a lot of knowledge to share. For 25-plus years, Michael has been taught to conduct himself in a professional and ethical manner at all times. He has gained the respect of his peers and supervisors through his actions, and if he makes a mistake, he is the first one to own up to it That being said, I truly cannot believe the disgraceful way that he has been treated. He reported some allegations to his supervisor that had been brought to his attention, from not one, but several fellow firefighters. These issues are not only considered unacceptable within the fire service, but in most jobs/careers. It is also unacceptable that these firemen did not feel safe to report the actions of the chief in fear of retaliation. It has been brought to our attention that a few board members are very good friends with the chief, and it strongly appears that they might be hesitant to take the appropriate action concerning their friend. Isn’t being a friend of the person accused a conflict of interest? Punishment is being given to a man who was only doing the right thing. The lack of communication is unbelievable, how do you put someone on extended paid administrative leave treat him the way he has been treated, without a clear explanation. What steps are the board taking to get Michael back to work? Michael has earned the right to be treated in a respectful way by the board and the community. Unfortunately, this is not the road this board has chosen to take. The actions by the board and the comments made to KRDO 13 seem to be calculated and unfair. By temporarily removing these men from their positions, what does that truly accomplish? It is terrible how this man has been building a positive reputation in the fire community for all these years to have this board tarnish his reputation. Our family hopes to get answers and all of this resolved in a timely manner, seen as it has been going on for far too long,” said Krcmer. See https://gazette.com/ttribune.com/black-forest-fire-chief-placed-on-administrative-leave-after-staff-complaints/article.
  • Note: Krcmer stated during her comments that the building access codes had been changed, but staff were willing to meet Torres at the perimeter of Station 1, to return his property.
  • Ryan Haynie, treasurer of the Del Norte Fire Protection District Board of Directors, addressed the board via Zoom and said, “I would like to remind the board that you have a duty to take care of your constituents, take care of your firefighters, and take care of the affairs of the district. Unfortunately, when these types of incidents happen it is a negative perception for the department and the fire service in general. Please be fair with everybody whose involved in this, please don’t create environments where members don’t feel safe to report things. Your obligation as board members is to do what’s best for that fire district, and when you have individuals that don’t feel safe to report allegations, or when they do report allegations, they feel that they have retribution against them for doing the right thing, that’s not fair. Please take care of your people, because without the people you don’t have anything left. Those individuals who go out on the trucks every day, who are training, who are doing everything that they’re doing, they are the ones who are keeping your district going; that’s who the people see every day and who the people trust. Take care of your people, treat them right, and keep them safe,” said Haynie.
  • Firefighter Michael Alverado requested the board allow additional public comments after the executive session before the regular session concludes, to allow educated comments.

Chairman Nate Dowden thanked Piepenburg, Torres, Krcmer, Haynie, and Alverado for their comments.

After the board returned from the executive session and all actions had been made, Abendschan addressed Torres and Krcmer regarding the accusations made during the first public comment session. He said he had not spoken with any media outlets and had he been asked to comment by the media, he would have declined and will continue to do so. The information KRDO News 13 and other media outlets repeated was sourced from the board minutes available on the district website, said Abendschan.

Executive session

The board moved into executive session at 7:33 p.m. pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute 24-6-402(4), (b) to receive legal advice on the status regarding the investigation of complaints, and CRS 24-6-402(4)(f), to discuss a personnel matter involving the fire chief.

Board takes further action

When the board returned to the regular meeting at 11:26 p.m., Dowden confirmed the board had concluded the executive session and had not deviated from the agenda. He thanked the attendees for remaining during the evening and said the board had accepted the investigative report prepared by Karin Ranta-Curran with Employment Matters Flynn Investigations Group, and the investigation into the allegations brought to the Board of Directors on June 28 against the fire chief was closed.

The board unanimously approved Glesne negotiate the terms of departure for Langmaid and pursue the hiring an interim fire chief.

The board approved a second investigation into the allegations brought against Piepenburg and Torres during the initial investigation, in a 4-1 vote. Director Chad Behnken voted nay.

Vice Chair Kiersten Tarvainen said both employees will remain on paid administrative leave until the investigation is completed, and legal counsel will provide written instructions to both employees on Aug. 16.

Interim battalion chief’s contract

Before the first public comments session and the executive session, Chair Nate Dowden said the board authorized negotiations to begin at the July 17 meeting to identify interim battalion chiefs to temporarily handle the duties of the fire chief and deputy operations chief during the investigation. He requested the district ratify the agreement with Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) for the provision of interim Battalion Chiefs Josh Bartlett and David Rocco, who have been sharing duties since Aug. 1.

The board unanimously approved the agreement.

Logistics Officer Rachel Dunn confirmed to OCN that the CSFD interim battalion chiefs are not assisting with administrative matters or making financial decisions, but they are responding on calls, providing guidance and training to staff, and working from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days per week, including weekends.

Financial report

Treasurer Jack Hinton said that as of July 31, the district had about $9.694 million in total assets (about $3.713 million in Operations Checking), the district is at 52% of the anticipated budget for 2024 and should be 58% of the budget for the time of year, but the district has been under budget for some time, said Hinton.

The board unanimously accepted the financial report as presented.

District Administrator Lisa Emry said the district had received $18,785 in ambulance revenue and received $92,903 in total tax revenue. A notable expense was $30,488 for CEGR legal expenses.

Wildland deployments

Dunn said the district deployed a crew with the Type 6 brush truck engine to the Moss Mountain Fire in Oregon. A staff member deployed to California with the Cimmaron Hills Fire Department and one other deployed to the Alexander Fire in Larimer County.

Training update

Dunn said there were 1,383 training hours in July. Members of the department are still working on certification training so that nothing is lacking during the investigation process, she said.

The meeting adjourned at 11:32 p.m.

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Meetings are usually held on the third Wednesday of the month at Station 1, 11445 Teachout Road, Colorado Springs. Meetings are open to the public in person or via Zoom. The board will hold a special meeting on Thu., Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wed., Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. and will be preceded by a Volunteer Pension Board of Directors meeting. For joining instructions, updates, agendas, minutes, and reports, visit https://bffire.org or contact the Administrative Office at admin@bffire.org or call 719-495-4300.

Natalie Barszcz can be reached at nataliebarszcz@ocn.me.

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