The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "fire chief" ...
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Playing with Fire
“Playing with Fire” focuses on a public board well out of the public eye, but one that could cost New Orleans taxpayers millions of dollars every year. After a month of digging through thousands of pages of records at the New Orleans Firefighters Pension Fund, WVUE-TV and Lee Zurik revealed questionable salaries, spending, and management.
Tags: broadcast; taxes; taxpayers; firefighters; salaries
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Playing with Fire
“Playing with Fire” focuses on a public board well out of the public eye, but one that could cost New Orleans taxpayers millions of dollars every year. After a month of digging through thousands of pages of records at the New Orleans Firefighters Pension Fund, WVUE-TV and Lee Zurik revealed questionable salaries, spending, and management. Among the notable discoveries: a $70,000 raise and $90,000 lump sum payout for the board Secretary-Treasurer/CEO; tens of thousands of dollars in questionable credit card charges by the board; and tens of millions of dollars in questionable investments. This last element is perhaps the most egregious for the citizens of New Orleans who are left to foot the bill for any pension fund shortfalls. This multi part series launched an investigation by the city’s inspector general, forced the board to change polices and led to charges filed by the state ethics board against two of the principals in our series.
Tags: New Orleans; taxes; taxpayers; credit cards
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Judge Sylvia James: Access Denied, Chief Judge Under fire
This series examines a chief judge who appears to be using her power and position to do as she pleases. WXYZ used FOIA extensively in their investigation which lead the city to put her on administrative leave as well as leading to inquiries and audits from the State Court Administrator, the Judicial Tenure Commission and a formal complaint containing 192 specific allegations.
Tags: judges; corruption; broadcast
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What's Wrong with the Hydrant?
In the investigation, it was revealed that “hundreds of fire hydrants” were not meeting minimum standards for water flow. This prevents firefighters from adequately fighting a fire and requires more time to extinguish a fire. Further, the investigation revealed a number of problems including a water system “looking like clogged arteries, firefighters struggling in aging rural communities”, and lower costs were more important than finding a solution.
Tags: fire chief; fire department; safety; housing; US Fire Administration; water supply; fire victim
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Sounding the Alarm
An extra $274,000 was required to fix the problems created by a $37 million upgrade to the Marion County digital radio system. The switch from analog to digital was not as smooth as hoped because firefighters claimed the transmissions were unintelligible.
Tags: dispatcher; 911; emergency call; International Association of Fire Chiefs; radio; walkie talkie; alert
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A Chief Under Fire
The story looks at "corruption and malfeasance at the federally-funded, volunteer fire department, the Boone County Fire Protection District." Specifically, the author reveals a misuse of "federal grant money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and public, taxpayer money for the purchase of an 8-foot bronze statue in front of the department's Columbia, Mo. headquarters.
Tags: fire department; misuse of funds; taxpayer money; corruption, Boone County Fire
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Aurora Fire Chief Golfing
"CBS4 Investigator Brian Maas looked into accusations Aurora, Colorado's fire chief was golfing during work hours and carrying on an affair with a married subordinate. The broadcast investigation revealed the Chief had frequently been playing golf during scheduled work days and hors without using any leave time. We reported 23 days of golf on work days in an 8 month period. Accusations of an affair with a married subordinate could not be substantiated."
Tags: fire chief; work schedule; golfing
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Uniform Allowance Abuse
For over a decade, the public's money was being used to purchase private clothing and other merchandise for the city's police officers and firefighters. Police and fire chiefs knew of the matter, and the spending involved a major uniform and supply company, and the safety force members who shopped there.
Tags: tax money; public money; police corruption; firefighter; police; abuse; private spending
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Firing Back
60 Minutes examined the contention that the gun industry's marketing and sales practices allow guns to fall into the hands of criminals. In an exclusive interview, they spoke with a former senior firearms industry executive and lawyer who spent much of his career defending gun manufacturers against critics who blame the industry for the violence caused by guns. Now, the man who was once a top lawyer for the National Rifle Association and then the chief spokesman representing the major gun manufacturers is firing back at the gun industry, calling it a "dirty little secret."
Tags: TAPE; National Rifle Association; NRA; guns; criminals; gun industry; firearms; gun manufacturer; distribution; retailer; whistleblower; handgun; revolver; Bureau of Alcohol; Tobacco; and Firearms
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Paying for firefighters' overtime taxes Martin County
Overtime pay enabled a Fire-rescue battalion chief to become the third highest paid employee in Martin County and overtime pay for the 230-member department tripled in the past six years, despite efforts by the brass to control overtime pay.
Tags: overtime; Fire Rescue; Fire Battalion Chief; taxpayers; public safety officials; Martin County Firefighters Association; Emergency Services