The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld the firing of a Davenport fireman, even though his questionable conduct occurred off-the-job.
Robert Dolan was fired in 1997 after 15 years on the job. While he was described as an excellent fire fighter, supervisors suspended him four times for off-duty conduct, including a drunken driving arrest, arriving to work late. The final straw came when Dolan fled his car when it slid into a ditch on a snowy evening. Four cops tracked him down at his house, gave him a breathalizer, and determined he was drunk. Dolan then resisted arrest when cops tried to take him in custody. Dolan argues he’s no longer drinking, and his bad behavior never occurred at work. The Supreme Court justices have upheld Dolan’s dismissal. The justices say firefighters are protectors of our community, entering our homes and businesses under dire circumstances and it’s important for firefighters to uphold the highest standards as lives are in their hands.
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