2008 Woodie Awards
Baltimore Fire Chief Goodwin Resigns
Cait Rohan
Issue date: 11/20/07 Section: News
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Baltimore Fire Chief William J. Goodwin resigned last Tuesday amid much controversy.
Many think Goodwin's resignation comes in response to the Feb. 9 death of Cadet Rachael M. Wilson. The stepping-down will be the latest in other high-level Baltimore offices under Mayor Shelia Dixon's administration.
"There is a god," Capt. Stephan G. Fugate, president of the fire officer's union, told the Baltimore Sun after Goodwin resigned. "The Rachael Wilson death was just the final straw where there was no turning back."
Wilson, a 29 year-old mother of two was lethally wounded in a Baltimore rowhouse during a live burn exercise. The exercise was later discovered to violate many national safety standards. Although three mid-level department commanders were fired there is still a lot of controversy surrounding the incident. Many say that the Wilson death warrants examining the department's higher-ups.
Dixon spokesmen deny any connection between Wilson's death and Goodwin's resignation.
Although many speculated that Goodwin would be fired after the Wilson death, the mayor repeatedly stated that Goodwin's actions in the situation were appropriate. Dixon's aides attribute the resignation to retirement.
"On behalf of the citizens, I want to thank [Goodwin] for his years of sacrifice and commitment over an extraordinarily long and successful career," Dixon said in a statement regarding the event.
"The last year has been difficult for the department, and Chief Goodwin has provided the steady and consistent hand that was needed," said Dixon.
The stepping-down and firing of other Baltimore officers is also suspect. In July, the mayor asked former Police Commissioner Leonard D. Hamm to resign. This month the city's park director resigned. Her chief of staff quit in October. Recently, Dixon has alluded to changing leadership in some departments.
Goodwin, 52, was not always jaded by controversy and speculation. A native son of Baltimore, he grew up in Canton and graduated Archbishop Curley High School in 1973. He joined the Fire Department in 1975. He was a third-generation firefighter.
Many think Goodwin's resignation comes in response to the Feb. 9 death of Cadet Rachael M. Wilson. The stepping-down will be the latest in other high-level Baltimore offices under Mayor Shelia Dixon's administration.
"There is a god," Capt. Stephan G. Fugate, president of the fire officer's union, told the Baltimore Sun after Goodwin resigned. "The Rachael Wilson death was just the final straw where there was no turning back."
Wilson, a 29 year-old mother of two was lethally wounded in a Baltimore rowhouse during a live burn exercise. The exercise was later discovered to violate many national safety standards. Although three mid-level department commanders were fired there is still a lot of controversy surrounding the incident. Many say that the Wilson death warrants examining the department's higher-ups.
Dixon spokesmen deny any connection between Wilson's death and Goodwin's resignation.
Although many speculated that Goodwin would be fired after the Wilson death, the mayor repeatedly stated that Goodwin's actions in the situation were appropriate. Dixon's aides attribute the resignation to retirement.
"On behalf of the citizens, I want to thank [Goodwin] for his years of sacrifice and commitment over an extraordinarily long and successful career," Dixon said in a statement regarding the event.
"The last year has been difficult for the department, and Chief Goodwin has provided the steady and consistent hand that was needed," said Dixon.
The stepping-down and firing of other Baltimore officers is also suspect. In July, the mayor asked former Police Commissioner Leonard D. Hamm to resign. This month the city's park director resigned. Her chief of staff quit in October. Recently, Dixon has alluded to changing leadership in some departments.
Goodwin, 52, was not always jaded by controversy and speculation. A native son of Baltimore, he grew up in Canton and graduated Archbishop Curley High School in 1973. He joined the Fire Department in 1975. He was a third-generation firefighter.
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