Zephyrhills Firefighter Accused Of Violating Substance Policy

One of the city's most outspoken firefighters is on administrative leave after being accused of violating the city's drug and alcohol policy.

Lt. Shawn Baptist, who heads the local firefighters' union, was placed on administrative leave Feb. 25. A memorandum from Fire Chief Keith Williams states that the city confirmed the violation March 3 and placed Baptist on unpaid leave March 4.

In a telephone interview last week, Baptist denied that he had failed a drug test or that he was on administrative leave. He said he'd been on vacation.

City Manager Steve Spina said Baptist filed a grievance over the decision to place him on unpaid leave. He also filed a grievance, which was denied, over a longstanding pay dispute.

Baptist has been with the department since 1993 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2006. Baptist said he should have received a 5 percent pay raise with the promotion. At the time, he was awarded a 3 percent raise with the remaining two percent contingent on his completing all of the classes required for his rank.

Baptists' annual evaluations point out that he was slow to complete his coursework. He currently is paid $34,534 a year.

Baptist has been reprimanded twice previously during his 16-year career for minor violations. In 2007, he gave notice that he planned to leave the department but later withdrew his resignation.

Katrina Bouthot, the city's administrative director, said Baptist is on unpaid leave until his grievance hearing. According to city policy, an employee who fails a drug or alcohol test has five days to request an opportunity to explain the result to the city's medical review officer. Baptist reportedly made no such request.

The city can terminate the employee or require that he participate in a treatment program before returning to work. A disciplinary hearing is scheduled for the week of March 23.