CLEVELAND, Tenn. - State fire officials are preparing a formal hearing to revoke any certification obtained by Bradley County Fire Chief Troy Maney and Battalion Cmdr. Ronnie Goss through a "fraudulent, false or unauthorized manner."
During its meeting Tuesday, Tennessee's Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education Commission authorized the action after an investigation into an April 18 complaint that alleged Maney, assisted by Goss, had falsely obtained training certifications.
Maney and Goss have retained legal counsel and "refused to cooperate or even speak with the investigators," said Joseph M. Underwood, chief counsel for Fire Prevention and Law Enforcement, in a memo to the commission.
Bradley County Fire Chief Troy Maney addresses the Bradley County Commission in March.
Attorney James Logan, who represents Maney, said that is "a baldfaced lie."
"My client stands ready, willing and able, and has desired since day one to cooperate fully with anyone interested in the truth as opposed to personal gain," Logan said.
When the original proposed date for Maney to make a statement to investigators was declined due to Logan's trial schedule, an offer was made for the statement to be made alternate dates, Logan said.
Logan said he was later told by investigators that they had no desire to take Maney's statement once presented with alternate interview dates.
"Once again I am privileged to represent a falsely accused man," Logan said.
Bradley County Mayor D. Gary Davis said the formal hearing is not unexpected and is part of the process.
"It was my understanding that a second meeting would take place in which both sides give their story," Davis said.
He loosely equated the commission's review of the investigation to a grand jury process.
The mayor later released a statement on the matter.
"Any employment decisions will be based upon the information that is presented at the formal hearing by both the State and the individual employees," Davis said.
Underwood also recommended that the commission contact the district attorney's office about any possible criminal violations.
Steve Crump, district attorney for the 10th Judicial District, said that to the best of his knowledge, state fire authorities have not contacted his office.
The date for the formal hearing has not been set.
The complaint, signed by Battalion Cmdr. Myron Hawkins, alleges that Maney received certification for fire instructor testing that took place on April 7 in LaVergne, Tenn. - a date he asserts the chief was attending an in-service program with the Bradley County Sheriff's Office.
In April, Maney said he took the fire instructor test in Bradley County, but could not recall the date.
The complaint contends Goss, a former training officer, is an accessory in the alleged falsification, claiming he was in Laverne on the April 7 test date and present on other testing dates that Maney did not attend.
No members of the fire department's current training staff "have signed off or witnessed Chief Maney completing any practical testing for any of the certifications he has tested for and obtained," according to the complaint.
The complaint also claims Goss received unspecified favors from Terry Priest, a former commission field representative who administered certification tests. Hawkins described Priest as "a close friend" of Goss.
In July, Priest, a former chief of the Hardy's Chapel Volunteer Fire Department in Overton County, was indicted for theft in excess of $37,000 that went missing from the department between January 2013 and May 2014. Priest refused to be interviewed during the Maney investigation, according to Underwood's memo.
Davis appointed Maney as fire chief in August 2013, replacing former chief Dewey Woody, who resigned in October 2012 to work as a state fire official.
Maney served as deputy chief for Bradley County Fire and Rescue. He has more than 30 years of management experience, Davis said during Maney's introduction to the Bradley County Commission two years ago.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.