Two underage firefighters formerly with the Anderson Fire Protection District allegedly consumed alcohol during a 2007 Halloween party at Fire Captain Jason Bellinger's residence, a party attended by at least three off-duty Anderson police officers and a newly-hired Fire Chief, according to interviews conducted in May 2009 by investigator Neil J. Purcell, Jr.
Purcell's 41-page executive summary and nearly 1,000 pages of transcribed interviews were finally released to the public on a judge's order in mid-January.
Commissioned by the fire district, Purcell conducted 37 interviews with firefighters and others while spending 230 hours between May 18, 2009, and June 15, 2009, looking into allegations that former Fire Chief Joe Piccinini had mismanaged the district.
Many of the interviews included allegations of heavy off-duty drinking on Piccinini's behalf, as well as consumption of alcohol by at least two underage volunteer firefighters.
One of Purcell's interviewees named an underage firefighter in attendance at the Halloween party who "was so drunk that he started throwing up." Another volunteer who remained sober "had to drive him home because he was so plastered."
According to another interviewee referring to the same underage firefighter, "He was pretty nervous about there being cops there and him being underage and drinking."
The party - an annual tradition at Fire Captain Jason Bellinger's residence in Anderson, according to Purcell's interviewees - included a keg and involved several people including Piccinini doing keg stands - a practice where a person is held upside-down while beer is forced through a hose directly up and into the stomach.
Despite the drafting of an executive summary by former Anderson Police Chief Purcell, despite five fire district board members hearing segments of the investigative report including three who also serve as city council members and despite the alleged presence of a fire chief, a fire captain and three off-duty Anderson police officers -- Casey Day, Scott Bailey, and Detective Robert Modin -- at the party, no one provided any information regarding the incident to Anderson Police, Chief Dale Webb told the Valley Post on Thursday, Feb. 18.
While stating that he had previously heard rumors about parties and alleged underage drinking, Webb said he had "never been approached by anyone in an official capacity regarding underage drinking having occurred" at Jason Bellinger's residence.
Webb added Thursday that he had not yet had a chance to read Purcell's report.
Providing alcohol to persons under the age of 21 years is a misdemeanor offense, according to Webb, who added that there is a one-year statute of limitations on the district attorney's ability to prosecute such a misdemeanor.
Therefore, pursuing a potential 2007 misdemeanor would be without legal consequences for an alleged provider of alcohol more than two years later, Webb indicated.
When contacted Thursday about the underage drinking incident, former fire district board members Keith Webster and Butch Schaefer, as well as current board chairperson Marsha Kelley, each said in separate telephone interviews that they were aware of the party described in the report but had not alerted law enforcement regarding the incident.
While stating disappointment in those involved with the underage drinking, Webster said the board could not have said anything due to a recommendation from Michael Fitzpatrick, the district legal counsel, that Purcell's report should remain confidential.
Schaefer said he read the full investigative report as well as the individual interviews and was also aware of the Halloween party and the underage drinking, as well as attendance of police officers at the party.
"I had a conversation with the chief (Dale Webb) after the report went public (in January)," Schaefer said Thursday. "I believe Dale is aware of it."
Kelley added that no disciplinary measures were taken for the alleged underage drinking.
"What people do on their own time is their business," Kelley said. "We don't have any legal obligation to do anything about it."
The fire district board held several closed session meetings to review Purcell's investigative report and findings in June 2009.
Piccinini, who was hired Oct. 15, 2007, resigned July 1, 2009, as fire chief.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 4
harleydude007 writes:
It appears cops protect their own. Purcell did not want any of his x good old boys to get in trouble! Are these cops going to get disciplined, now the police chief knows about the party? I do not think there is a statue of limitations on discipline! Maybe there should be three new cops on the beat? How does allowing underage drinking fall under their oath to protect and serve the public?Whats up with that Chief Webb? Sounds like you heard about this incident long ago, but just chose to keep quiet and not investigate this!
HeardEnough writes:
According to the article, Chief Webb could not be made aware until the report was released. Had Purcell or the fire board told him, they could have been sued by ex-firechief Piccinni. I am sure knowing Chief Webb, this was NOT swept under the rug, and the officers involved have been dealt with. We'll never know that, as it is a personel matter. Also, how were the officers to know the age of drinkers. One would assume that the host or fellow firefighters would know his age and act accordingly.
goodday2all writes:
Why is it the OFF DUTY offices job to police all the people at a party that they are attending not hosting? This is not fare the them
PS There the Valley Post goes again trying to start up something
memepsd writes:
Here we go againg bashing law enforcement! Anderson Police Department is an "outstanding" agency who goes above and beyond everyday, in a dangerous job while being understaffed and underpaid and I am saddened by this article and the Valley Post. This was stated as a Halloween party, where everyone is dressed up in costumes, police officers (on their off duty time) are allowed to go to parties, are they supposed to id everyone at a location of a party? I believe with everything in me that "if" it was noticed by an officer that underage drinking was happening something would have been done. Do you know even how long these officers were at the location? was it the same timeframe as when the underage drinking was going on? I'm sick of people looking to find fault in others, take a look at yourself before bashing others. At least the Record Searchlight left out names, shame on you Valley Post, for trying to start something "again"!
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