Commission affirms Cedar Rapids firefighter's firing over cash theft

At a hearing Tuesday morning, the Cedar Rapids Civil Service Commission affirmed Fire Chief Stephen Reid's decision to fire firefighter Christopher Slaughter for stealing money from other firefighters.

Slaughter, 34, admitted to the three-member commission that he stole $76 on Dec. 22 from a firefighters' kitty kept in a firefighter's locker, a theft caught on surveillance videotape as part of an internal Fire Department probe. The department launched the probe with the help of the Police Department after similar thefts in August and September at department fire stations.

However, Slaughter testified Tuesday that he was wrestling with a gambling addiction and depression, and was seeking help for both matters.

His attorney, Bill Roemerman of Cedar Rapids, asked the commission to delay its decision on Slaughter's appeal of his firing for 90 to 120 days to see what Slaughter accomplished in treatment. He noted that Slaughter had received a good Fire Department review in September and had been nominated by the department in November for “distinguished action.”

Chief Reid testified that trust is all important at the Fire Department because firefighters work as a team and need to be able to count on one another. As importantly, the public needs to trust firefighters as they enter people's homes and businesses to do their jobs, the chief said.

The commission - Nancy Evans, chairwoman, Mike Birmingham and Kory Kazimour - deliberated just a short time before reaching its decision after the short morning hearing.

Slaughter joined the Fire Department in July 2005 and was fired Jan. 5 after being confronted with the surveillance videotape that showed him stealing $76 from a firefighter's locker at the District 3 fire station, 1424 B Ave. NE.