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Former Firefighter Feels Vindicated By Reversal Of Firing

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By STEVE ANDREWS | News Channel 8

Published: September 9, 2008

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• 8 On Your Side Investigation
• Termination Reversed

  Paul Sanzone

TAMPA - Firefighter Paul Sanzone endured humiliation last year. The city claimed he verbally threatened a supervisor. After 17 years on the job, Sanzone was fired.

"When it comes to workplace violence, it is thought best that he go ahead and be dismissed," Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman Capt. Bill Wade said at the time.

The story was widely reported in newspapers and on television in early May 2007 – a public humiliation that contrasts with the quiet manner in which the city reversed itself on the firing.

The decision came during an arbitration hearing in late August, at which Sanzone was allowed to retire.

"What does it mean to me? It means the world to me," said Sanzone, 47, whose struggles arose from an on-the-job injury that still keeps him from working. "My whole life I've been involved with the fire service, and to end my career on a sour note that way, it hurt, it hurt real bad. So this is a great day for me and my family."

Sanzone suffered a serious back injury in April 2006. He said the city and its worker compensation insurance carrier, Commercial Risk, jerked him around.

"The system's not fair for the injured worker. It's stacked for the insurance company," Sanzone said.

His injury, three herniated discs, left him unable to drive from his Spring Hill home to work. Instead of paying to send Sanzone to a doctor of his choosing, the city and Commercial Risk paid more than $6,000 for a limousine service to take Sanzone to work and back.

Tampa Fire Rescue Union President Larry Parker called the city's actions ridiculous.

"It seems ridiculous to spend $500 a week to bring somebody to a fire station," Parker said. "That could be easily used for an appointment with a surgeon."

But Sanzone learned nothing was easy when dealing with workers compensation.

At one point, he said, Commercial Risk cut off his medication, refused to pay hospital bills and forced him to work when he couldn't.

In December 2006, "8 On Your Side" profiled Sanzone's struggles with the city and worker's compensation.

In January 2007, Sanzone vented to a psychologist with the city's employee assistance program, saying that if his injuries led to paralysis he would pay someone back.

The city deemed that was a threat and ordered Sanzone to stay away from work without pay until he received a psychological clearance to return. It took months to get an appointment. During that time, Sanzone used all his sick and vacation time.

He returned to work April 18, 2007.

"I got here, I was in excruciating pain. I got here, I was stressed out, my blood pressure was elevated, my heart rate was elevated," Sanzone said. "I told the chief how I felt."

Sanzone contends personnel chief Dennis Phillips told him if he didn't get to a training class, Sanzone would have a worse day.

Sanzone went to Tampa General Hospital for treatment. Before he left, he mentioned he'd like to throw Phillips out a window.

"I didn't make any verbal threats to anybody," Sanzone said.

Wade said then that Phillips denied harassing Sanzone. The city investigated and fired Sanzone for workplace violence.

"If you're threatening to throw somebody out of a fourth-story building, you're threatening to kill him," Wade said at the time.

Sanzone challenged the city.

In February, the Tampa fire and police pension board decided that Sanzone should receive a line of duty disability pension.

In late August, at an arbitration hearing about his termination, the city decided to let Sanzone retire, said employee relations manager Sarah Lang.

"It was really moot," Lang said. "We voided the dismissal since he was granted his disability pension. It was a voluntary thing on the city's part. No big deal or decision."

Unless your name is Paul Sanzone.

"I'm just glad it's over," Sanzone said. "I'm glad I can hold my head up high as an honorably retired firefighter, and that's what I am and that's what I'll always be. I'll be a firefighter forever."

Reporter Steve Andrews can be reached at (813) 221-5779 or sandrews@WFLA.com.

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