On Nov. 11, the town council suspended the chief of the Wagener Fire Department, Mark Redd, as well as the Assistant Chief, George Day. Gerald Taylor is assigned Interim Chief. According to the Fire Marshall’s office, the only two officers listed are Chief Redd and his son Stephen Cody Redd. However, in local records, we see George Day listed as Assistant Chief.
A current investigation is being conducted by SLED and that investigation requires limited public comment.
There are twelve firefighters in the fire department and each one will have to decide whether to stay or go. Acting Chief Taylor will meet with each one individually to determine which will remain.
The suspension arose due to inappropriate use of social media and insufficient bookkeeping documentation regarding the finances of the Wagener Fire Department.
There have been considerable difficulties between the fire department and the town council and mayor in the past few years. There have been repeated breaches of security and a repeated lack of response from the fire department when asked for bookkeeping documentation. Funding was used by the fire department without proper documentation.
“If any state or federal official questions where money comes from, we have to tell them.“ Wagener Mayor Mike Miller said. “These (suspensions) are temporary arrangements, but some people involved have elected to make them permanent…….. Why can’t we work together? I’m not accusing anyone of wrong doing, but why are we unable to work together.
“We appreciate their service, but it’s not a closed domain. It’s a department of this town and everybody is entitled to information. We repeatedly received no response from the fire department when we had questions regarding the bookkeeping. It is a breach of security.”