Utica Fire Chief Brooks: He and Mayor Weren’t on Speaking Terms

The drama over the city's paid suspension of Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks is amping up.    Chief Brooks told WIBX's First News with Keeler on Thursday that he and the mayor were not on speaking terms during the last several months prior to being placed on leave. He said that when the Mayor needed to communicate with the department, he chose to do it through the Assistant Fire Chief. Brooks said that the friction stems back from an incident that occurred years ago, alluding to the fact that the recent action by Mayor Palmieri was political and personal.  Brooks was on Keeler to respond to an editorial put out by Mayor Palmieri on Wednesday regarding his decision to place the chief on leave.

Background

Brooks was placed on paid leave back on May 12th when he says he was called into Mayor Palmieri's office and was met by the mayor and corporation council.  He claimed that the mayor forced him to turn-in his badge, city cell phone and the keys to his city vehicle and was told to no longer represent himself as fire chief.  Additionally, he said he was denied a claim he had requested regarding a health issue that was connected to his service at the World Trade Center on 911. Brooks told WIBX that he had contracted cancer from breathing toxic fumes at ground zero in New York City. He supplied WIBX with paperwork from the World Trade Center Health Organization confirming that the cancer was related to 911. Brooks said he was told by the city that his cancer was not related to 911 and that even if it was, he was there as a volunteer and not as a city employee.  The city has since reversed that decision following an interview with former Utica Mayor Tim Julian on the Keeler Show, who was mayor at the time of 911, confirmed that the chief was working at Ground Zero on official city business.  Since the city's action, several council members have come to the defense of Brooks. Some council members have called on the mayor to reinstate him.

During the interview, Chief Brooks also made these disclosures:

- He would gladly drop the legal issue with the city if he was reinstated

- He is medically fit to perform the duties of fire chief

- He said that the mayor is upset over his stance on the recent cement plant issue and    the city's preparedness for last month's big snowstorm

Mayor Palmieri has been invited to respond on the Keeler program Friday morning.

Listen to the complete interview with Chief Brooks below-