Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 1, 1993 TAG: 9303030397
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
FIRE CHIEF GLAD HE CAN GET BACK TO WORK
A YEAR AFTER some of his own men made allegations that led to a state police probe which eventually exonerated him, Roanoke's fire chief wants to talk about his job, not himself.Roanoke Fire Chief Rawleigh Quarles is busy, but he's not complaining.
He's grappling with budget cuts while he seeks to expand the Fire Department's services.
He's searching for ways to trim the department's budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Because of tight finances, each city department must prepare alternative spending plans showing the impact of cuts of various amounts.
Quarles also is trying to recruit women and more black firefighters for the 244-member department. The department has no female firefighters, and only about 10 percent are black.
He also is overseeing a study of the location of the city's 14 fire stations and whether some need to be relocated or more need to be built.
As if that's not enough to keep him busy, he is expanding the department's "first-responder" program so more firefighters can answer emergency medical calls.
At four fire stations on the outskirts of the city, firefighters with emergency-medical training answer first-aid calls and stay until paramedics can take over. The program will be expanded to a fifth station next year.
Despite the hectic schedule, Quarles said he is doing what he enjoys. He would rather be working than trying to defend his own integrity.
A year ago, Quarles was spending much of his time answering allegations that he had misused state funds, rigged bids on fire trucks and accepted improper gratuities from a fire-engine company.
State police spent three months investigating him, but no charges were placed. Roanoke Commonwealth's Attorney Donald Caldwell said Quarles had shown poor judgment, but that there was no evidence to support criminal charges.
Quarles, who has been chief nearly four years, said the investigation was unpleasant for him and his family. After it was over, Quarles said, he just wanted to get back to managing the Fire Department.
Since then, the tension that developed in the department after the state police probe became public has eased. As far as Quarles is concerned, the incident is over.
"I've got too many important things to do to let something like that prevent me from doing my job," he said. "It is a hard enough job without that kind of baggage."
Quarles said he harbors no ill feelings about the probe and does not want to rehash it. The investigation was prompted by a group of firefighters who sent a letter to the state attorney general listing the allegations against Quarles.
"People are people - and their perception of how to handle some things may be different from mine," he said.
Ed Crawford, president of the Roanoke Firefighters Association, said the hard feelings are subsiding.
The letter from the firefighters angered Quarles, who noted that they had bypassed the city's own administrative procedures and gone directly to the state.
Since the investigation was completed, Crawford has met with Quarles and assured him there was no ulterior motive to embarrass him by asking for the probe.
"We sat down and talked about it. I told him that he had a job to do, and I had one to do [as president of the firefighters]," Crawford said.
"I wish the investigation had never become public," Crawford said.
State police usually do not publicize investigations of individuals unless charges are brought. But news of the probe came out in the newspaper, which used its own sources to report the story.
Quarles says he doesn't know exactly who was involved in seeking the investigation, but he believes they are focusing on their jobs now and working to make the department more efficient. "I hope that it is a genuine feeling and not just a perception that I have," Quarles said.
Since the investigation ended, Quarles has spent much time on developing an aggressive program to recruit female and black firefighters.
City recruiters will begin visiting military bases and historically black colleges to seek applicants. "The Police Department has been doing this for several years, and we are going to start doing it," he said.
\ RAWLEIGH QUARLES\ ROANOKE FIRE CHIEF
Age: 51.
Hometown: Roanoke.
Education: Lucy Addison High School; fire control and prevention courses at Virginia Western Community College, College of William and Mary, the National Fire Academy and other schools.
Professional: Joined the Roanoke Fire Department as a firefighter in 1963. In the past 30 years, has held several positions, including fire inspector, fire marshal, head of the Fire Prevention Bureau and deputy chief for training and safety. Appointed chief in 1989.
Family: Married with three children.
Quote: "We are busy. A lot is going on. Some days, there are not enough hours or people to accomplish as much as we would like."
Memo: Correction ***CORRECTION***