Des Plaines firefighter takes demotion for 'improper' e-mail rant

A Des Plaines battalion chief facing disciplinary action for an e-mail rallying fire department personnel against the city administration's call to curb expenses resigned his post this week.

Battalion Chief Art Zern took a voluntary demotion to the rank of lieutenant after writing "the economic 'crisis' that our city and others face is being used as a weapon to intimidate our leadership and membership."

Zern continued, "If they can take advantage of the situation to reduce our effectiveness and response capabilities in the name of 'cost efficiencies,' they will. Everything should not be on the table for cutting, reducing or changing."

In his e-mail, Zern insisted he is not disloyal, and urged fellow firefighters to fight management's call to make cuts and walk out if necessary.

Fire Chief Randy Jaeger recommended Zern receive a written reprimand and 10-day suspension without pay for the e-mail. City Manager Jason Bajor said he thought the action merited an immediate demotion.

In a memo to Jaeger, Bajor said Zern's actions were "improper, unacceptable, and rebellious in nature. - His actions go beyond a matter of mere negligence and into the realm of intentional malice."

City leaders are grappling with a more than $2 million projected shortfall in the city's operating fund for 2010. They propose scaling back services and shrinking the work force. Officials say they are trying to avoid layoffs and property tax increases to bridge that gap.

"The city was looking for cooperation from all departments so that we can save jobs and balance the budget," Mayor Marty Moylan said Thursday. "We were asking all the departments to be creative and work with the city and come up with ideas to cut the budget."

Moylan said some people felt the tone of Zern's e-mail was inappropriate.

"It's unfortunate that was his view on our approach to the way that we're going to conduct the budget," he said, declining to comment specifically on the disciplinary action, which is a function of the city manager's office.

Bajor, who released the memos Thursday, was out of the office late in the day and couldn't be reached for further comment.

Jaeger said Zern is an outstanding officer and respected by many fire personnel within the department and statewide.

"However, in this instance, an error of judgment was made that resulted in a very unfortunate outcome," he said.