'No Wrongdoing Found' for Deputy Chief on Leave, Gets Retirement Package

Operations Deputy Chief Joseph Madden is poised to retire from the Orland Fire Protection District by the end of the year, according to a retirement package approved Tuesday by trustees.

In May, Madden and Fire Chief Bryant Krizik were put on paid administrative leave while .

Board president James Hickey has repeatedly refused to comment on what investigators might be looking for, but told reporters on Tuesday that “there were no wrongdoings found on (Madden’s) part” and that the deputy chief would retire before the “year’s end.”

Meanwhile, Hickey added, the investigation into Krizik will carry on.

“The attorneys are working on it daily,” he said, noting that by next month’s board meeting he hopes to have “more insight” to share.

Hickey also refused to comment on the details of Madden’s retirement package, but said the agreement would be posted on the district website as soon as it received the necessary signatures.

Madden did not return a message seeking comment on Tuesday night.

Hickey said Madden “did not really give any reasons” for his retirement. The deputy chief’s contract was set to expire at the end of 2013.

The board voted 4-0 in favor of the retirement package.

Trustee Blair Rhode was not in attendance during the vote on Madden’s retirement package. While Rhode was present at the meeting's start, he left the meeting some time between executive session and when trustees returned to vote.

Bonds Retired Early

Also during Tuesday night's board meeting, trustees unanimously gave finance director Kerry Sullivan permission to retire two sets of bonds that had been issued to help pay for capital improvement projects, including the training facility and communication upgrades.

By doing so, the district would save $110,000 in interest payments, Sullivan said. They are currently worth $348,000 and $755,000, and set to expire in 2013 and 2014, respectively, Sullivan added.