FdL firefighter fighting for his job

FOND DU LAC - A Fond du Lac firefighter continues to battle to keep his job. The fire chief says Edgar Ramirez-Tellez used department equipment and a sick day inappropriately. A hearing to decide the firefighter's fate started Tuesday night.

The Fond du Lac City Police and Fire Commission heard nearly seven hours of testimony Tuesday. Fire Chief Peter O'Leary is asking the commission to fire Edgar Ramirez-Tellez. O'Leary claims Ramirez-Tellez used a city computer on the job to do work on a restaurant he just opened. 

"I believe that I used the computer at the station, but I didn't believe I was affecting my job as a firefighter," said Ramirez-Tellez.

Ramirez-Tellez said O'Leary told him not to run his restaurant from the fire hall. So the firefighter told the commission he didn't think some research on his downtime would be a problem. O'Leary disagrees. 

"This isn't about somebody using a city computer. This is about somebody who went to work and worked on other gainful employment at a time when they were being paid by the city," said O'Leary.

O'Leary also questioned a sick day Ramirez-Tellez took the day before his restaurant's grand opening. Ramirez-Tellez said he was really sick and did not have a choice. 

"Sir when you're sick, you're sick. Do you really expect me to think. Am I going to look bad if I don't go to work when I'm sick?” Ramirez-Tellez asked.

However, O'Leary pointed out Ramirez-Tellez was seen at his restaurant that same day. 

"When people don't tell the truth, they forever cloud their ability to be trusted," said O'Leary.

Ramirez-Tellez did have a doctor's note confirming his illness that day.

So now the lawyers agree this situation has become a question of judgment and the commission will have the ultimate judgment on what will happen to this paramedic's job.

The hearing is scheduled to continue February 6th.