Fire Chief Fired For 'Unbecoming' Conduct

Photo: Chief Kevin P. Farrell/Danvers Fire Department website

Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha has fired the town’s fire chief “for conduct unbecoming of a fire chief,” according to a statement released from town officials on Monday.

The effective date of Kevin Farrell’s firing is Monday, Aug. 10.

“This was not an easy decision for me,” Bartha said in a statement, “but it was brought on by Mr. Farrell’s own conduct and a series of poor decisions on his part.”

Bartha said Farrell’s termination comes after satisfying the procedural requirements of the state civil service law.

Farrell has the right to appeal his decision to the state’s civil service commission. A longtime firefighter in town, Farrell became acting chief in 2010; named chief in 2011.

Bartha’s statement did not state what conduct led to Farrell’s firing.

“Under the state public records statute, the decision to terminate relates to personnel and disciplinary matters,” Bartha said. “so the written decision itself will not be released by the town until it is used in a civil service appeal, if this occurs. Likewise, the town generally will not make any official comment regarding this matter while, and if, it becomes a matter of litigation.”

Deputy Chief James McPherson Jr. has been appointed acting chief in the interim, according to town officials.

“Deputy Chief McPherson has commendably served in this capacity in the past and the town has full confidence in both him and in our highly professional firefighters, EMTs and other Fire Department personnel,” Bartha said.