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Knife Under Pillow Ends Career Of Indiana Firefighter
DAVE STEPHENS
South Bend Tribune
SOUTH BEND - The firefighting career of Jordan Jostes is over with the city of South Bend, but exactly how it ended is not clear.
What is known is that Wednesday morning, during the Board of Public Safety meeting, the board's members voted unanimously to end Jostes' employment by the city.
Board member Patrick Cottrell made the motion that the board give Jostes until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday to resign from the department, or he would be automatically terminated.
But Jostes did not attend the meeting to hear the board's decision and neither did anyone from the firefighters union.
At a hearing two weeks ago, Jostes and the union pushed back against an allegation by Chief Howard Buchanon that the firefighter had violated department rules against weapons by bringing a Bowie knife to work and keeping it under his pillow.
Jostes had claimed the knife was a tool, and union president Ken Marks testified that most of the department's firefighters kept a knife with them while at work.
But Buchanon told the board he pushed for Jostes' termination because the firefighter had already had two suspensions in the past year, with the knife incident being his third.
Although safety board members voted in open session to terminate Jostes, they did not discuss their reasons for giving him the option of resigning.
But after the meeting, Todd Skwarcan, vice president of the firefighters union, said he, Jostes and union lawyer Chip Lewis met with Assistant City Attorney Tom Bodnar the day before and that Jostes had already resigned at that meeting as part of an agreement brokered by the union.
But the board apparently rejected that agreement and made the vote for Jostes to resign or be terminated, a move Skwarcan called "unbelievable."
Bodnar did not return a late Wednesday phone call, and it's not clear if Jostes resigned or was terminated.
Regardless of how he left the department, Jostes' future is already known.
At his earlier hearing, Jostes told the board he had joined the Marines and was leaving for boot camp in October, for what he said was the start of a four-year commitment.
Copyright 2010 South Bend Tribune Corporation
All Rights Reserved
September 16, 2010
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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Perhaps thinking that they are 'doing their bit' to help keep him out of other FD's? His department history, with three infringments in one year, might give them cause for such action?
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Permalink Reply by Fabulous Heather Days of Summer on
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While he is willing to take risks... he is always calculated about why he is doing it... and always able to explain the rationale behind his decisions...
I wish more firefighters could do that...
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Permalink Reply by Kevin Teel on
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that still doesn't excuse them for said action. my guess is the union told him it's best to resign so the issue doesn't make public record, and so his name isn't soiled in the state. i'd be surprised if he gets on a vollie dept now.
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overkill = sure fire way to get sued
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Permalink Reply by RJ on
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Several years ago, we were required to disrobe for a strip search. The goal? It was to look for gang related tattoos. Those troops that had them were led away and discharged. I've never seen such efficiency in my twenty one years of military service. Poof, gone, no questions asked. I realize with the "all voluntary" military, and the need for cannon fodder in Afghaniland, and Iraq, that some gang members slip through MEPS. I carried a knife attached to my web gear always when the duty station warranted it, both as a tool, and protection. I'm not saying there are no gamg members in the military, but I firmly believe Unkie Sam is dealing with it admirably. As for the gangs "enlisting" former military, yes, it happens. Usually you find them to be the ones that didn't make it through an entire enlistment. Dishonorably discharged for what ever reason. Hell, even the best recruits for the cartels are former military. But, your point is well made.
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The article states statistics are not kept, so where does this "expert" come off saying the rate compared to the general public is higher?
Also, the article was written in 2006, and true, there was no active measures at that time to weed out gang bangers. I know for a fact that has changed. MEPS now denies enlistment to candidates with gang related tattoos. Also the strip searches for active members proves this to be a fact. I'm sure there are those smart enough not to get the tatts, and eventually their actions will get them caught. Just leave it to the media though to come up with these "experts" to paint a bleak picture. Just sayin'
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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Overkill? Intended pun?
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I can't help visualizing Crocodile Dundee's reaction to a gang banger saying, "you call that a knife?", then pulling out a Bowie knife. Are you telling me that was not an accurate portrayal of someone from the land down under?
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That's the funniest thing I have read in a long time. You crack me up sometimes Oldman.
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? REALLY GOOD COME BACK !!!
... insert always prepared with tom-cat joke here...
Ok... Did you mean come back or reply?
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In order to receive a suspension in a union department, the firefighter in question Captain would have had to follow standard civil service disciplinary steps that all supervisors must follow to prevent what you predict.
There are four (4) steps in the disciplinary process:
1. Verbal warning
2. Written warning
3. Meet with both the Captain and Battalion Chief
4. Meet with the Fire Chief to say bye bye
CBz
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