Former St. Johns County fire chief Scott Bullard has been awarded $500,000 after a jury found the county breached his contract rights by refusing to reinstate him.
St. Johns County is currently facing two lawsuits from former employees, including one that updates an earlier News4JAX I-Team investigation. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of former county employee Ava Pyszczymuka, alleges retaliation under the Florida Whistleblower Act. Pyszczymuka claims she was punished after reporting misconduct.
A former St. Johns County fire chief wants to be rehired in another position after he said he was asked to resign, but the county said on Tuesday it is not going to bring him back to the department.
A petition calling for the former St. Johns County Fire Rescue Chief to be re-employed with the department has now been signed by 1,000 people.
Scott Bullard and his supporters addressed county commissioners on Tuesday morning. A firefighter who is head of the union also spoke against him.
Just five months after taking the helm, St. Johns County Fire Rescue Department Fire Chief Scott Bullard suddenly resigned last week.
As the St. Johns County Fire Rescue marked 25 years of service to the community, it also introduced a new chief, who has spent over two decades years with the department.
