INVESTIGATION OF FIRE CHIEF NEARLY DONE

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, January 26, 1992                   TAG: 9201260190
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short
INVESTIGATION OF FIRE CHIEF NEARLY DONE
A state police investigation of Roanoke Fire Chief Rawleigh Quarles is almost finished, but authorities so far are not saying whether criminal charges will be placed as a result of the probe.
Investigators met with Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell on Thursday. Afterward, Caldwell said he wouldn't comment on the probe until this week, when the investigation is expected to be completed.
Some city officials say they doubt that criminal charges will be placed.
Quarles has denied that he has done anything illegal or mishandled city funds, although he has acknowledged that he made an error in judgment.
He has declined to identify what that error may have been, but sources have said it involved a trip he took to a fire equipment show in New York at Grumman Emergency Products' expense. Grumman also bought an advertisement in a program for a beauty contest in which Quarles' daughter was a participant.
City officials have said Quarles has been disciplined, apparently because of his relationship with Grumman, the winning bidder on a $1.4 million contract for six fire trucks last March. But they have declined to say how he was disciplined.
Quarles has questioned the motives and sincerity of his accusers because he said they made the allegations a public issue without first discussing them with him.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB