EMS chiefs on leave

WASILLA — Borough officials placed several high-ranking members of the borough emergency services department on administrative leave Monday.

In addition to the suspensions meted out to Emergency Services Deputy Director Clint Vardeman, and EMS chiefs Brian Wallace and Gene Wiseman, the departure of Dennis Brodigan was hastened from May 18 to April 1 by his request, according to borough officials.

The change comes only days after Brodigan announced his retirement for personal reasons.

Borough officials say the suspensions are the result of an internal investigation, but would not be more specific about the scope of the review.

“The suspensions are a result of the investigation,” said borough manager John Moosey.

Brodigan’s e-mail does not directly say why Vardeman, Wallace, and Wiseman had been placed on leave. And Moosey declined to comment about possible causes for the suspension.

Borough emergency manager Casey Cook has been promoted to work with Area Assistant Charles Darnell, the e-mail reads in part.

Cook “will act as the Deputy Director of EMS and is working with the Medic Ones, the Service Areas Chiefs, and Charles Darnell to ensure that there is no interruption in EMS operations and that the temporary transition of leadership is smooth and effective,” Brodigan’s email says.

Brodigan’s departure date was moved up in part because the borough budgeting process has been completed, he said. Brodigan did not directly link the suspensions with his resignation in an e-mail response to calls for comment. The resignation date had moved up because of budgetary reasons, Brodigan said.

“I have changed my original two-month effective date to the customary two-week notice, because the reason for my original two-month notice no longer exists,” he said.

The Emergency Services budget is complete, and scheduled for presentation to the borough assembly April 23, Moosey said.

Brodigan originally cited personal reasons as the cause of his resignation. Brodigan has worked in emergency services for 40 years, just over 12-and-a-half years as the head of the Mat-Su Borough's department.

Deputy Director for EMS chief Vardeman was listed among the names of people Brodigan said he felt could step up to fill his role.

The emergency services department coordinates fire and emergency medical services in the borough’s eight Fire Service Areas and manages dispatches for a service area roughly size of the state of West Virginia. Funding for it comes from a combination of taxpayer money, grants, and other funds.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.

Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the length of Brodigan's career with the Mat-Su borough.