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Tampa Fire Inspector Demoted For Accepting Hockey Ticket

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By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 17, 2008

TAMPA - A longtime fire inspector was demoted Wednesday to firefighter because he accepted a Lightning hockey ticket four years ago from a company whose work is inspected by the fire marshal's office.

Carlos Llerandi is the third fire inspector caught up in a probe into whether inspectors inappropriately accepted gifts from Advanced Engineered Systems, a company that installs fire alarms in large buildings.

Llerandi confirmed he accepted a ticket, according to city records. The demotion comes with a $17,000 pay cut, from about $80,000 to about $63,000.

Larry Parker, president of the firefighters union, said the punishment was too harsh and questioned why Mayor Pam Iorio is allowed to accept gifts from sports teams.

He said Iorio had accepted a jersey from the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. The city and team have an agreement regulating how much parking revenue the team receives from the city.

"If she has that influence over the Lightning revenue, then how can she accept a gift from the Lightning?" Parker said. "We see this as no different."

Iorio said Parker is mistaken on several counts. She said radio personality Jack Harris accepted a jersey from the team during a taping of the Mayor's Hour television show, which Iorio and Harris co-host. The jersey went to Harris, not her, she said.

She said she did accept a jersey from the Tampa Bay Rays a few months ago as part of a team promotion touting the baseball club's new name and logo. She says that is different from a fire inspector accepting a hockey ticket because she turns the gift over to the city rather than keeping or using it.

"If anyone gives me anything like that, it's ceremonial in nature," Iorio said. "It goes to archives. I accept them on behalf of the city. Nothing is for my personal benefit."

City code prohibits officials from misusing their position to "secure by coercion or threat or otherwise, a special privilege." Officials also are prohibited from accepting gifts in connection with any business transaction that "can be reasonably inferred as intended to influence the performance of an official act."

Union Head Calls It 'Witch Hunt'

Llerandi, 49, is accused of moral turpitude. He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade said the fire department thinks Llerandi's hockey ticket was to a luxury suite.

Parker said Llerandi took one hockey ticket during the 2003-04 season, the season the team won the Stanley Cup.

"He took it from a personal friend of his," Parker said. "One of the owners of AES is a personal friend of his. That's who he thought the ticket was coming from."

Upon learning the ticket was from the company rather than his friend, Llerandi didn't accept another, Parker said.

"We absolutely feel this is not a fair punishment," Parker said. "To us, it seems like a witch hunt."

Countered Iorio: "What we want is integrity with our inspectors."

The city hired Llerandi in 1980 as a firefighter. He joined the fire marshal's office in 1983.

Last month, two inspectors resigned after being accused of falsifying timecards and accepting gifts, including use of a boat, hockey tickets and golf tournament entry fees. Llerandi is not accused of falsifying timecards.

Fourteen inspectors work for the city fire marshal's office, including Llerandi and the two who resigned last month. Some inspectors focus on new construction and others focus on existing buildings. Llerandi handled new construction.

Inspectors ensure buildings meet fire codes. For example, they determine whether buildings require sprinkler systems. They check that fire exits are well-marked and fire doors close properly.

'No Quid Pro Quo' Found

Wade said despite the turmoil in the fire marshal's office, the buildings are safe. He said inspectors reinspected a sample of buildings and found no discrepancies compared with the work performed by the inspectors under investigation.

He said the department is classifying Llerandi's acceptance of the hockey ticket as a gift rather than a bribe.

"There was no quid quo pro," Wade said. "As best as the department can tell, there was nothing expected for the gift."

In all, the city has interviewed six inspectors as part of the investigation. The Tampa Police Department's criminal investigation is ongoing, spokeswoman Laura McElroy said.

The fire department doesn't expect any additional inspectors to be disciplined unless the police department uncovers new information.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679 or egedalius@tampatrib.com.

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