In a move that Maricopa Fire Chief William Kelleher hopes brings closure to an unfortunate incident last month, Assistant Chief Dan Ashton has decided to take a voluntary demotion to captain.
According to Kelleher, Ashton will work as a field incident technician under the direction of Brian Tate.
“This was a voluntary step down to captain,” Kelleher said. “I think this is the best solution. We needed to bring closure to this incident. As far as I’m concerned, the incident is closed. Hopefully we can move on as a fire department and so can the city as well.”
On July 20, an altercation at Ramsey’s American Grill involved several firefighters. Ashton had been under investigation for his role in the incident.
Recently a deal was worked out with the International Association of Fire Fighters Local #4561 to allow firefighters Cody Ashton and Chris Hertzog to resign. They were initially fired by Kelleher.
Hertzog was accused of sucker-punching Darren Cox at Ramsey’s as Cox was arguing with Cody Ashton. A number of other, at the time unidentified, firefighters were also involved.
Along with the initial punishment doled out to Hertzog and Cody Ashton, four other firefighters received disciplinary action from Kelleher. Capt. Nick Lang and firefighter Ryan Powell received shift suspensions, while firefighters Michael McCorry and Michael Grant were each given written warnings.
Photo by Aaron Thacker
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