Fire chief quits in Lyon County

Monday, March 25, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Following a closed personnel session on Sunday, the board agreed to hire Dekker as a full-time paid consultant for three months after his resignation takes effect Sunday.

Dekker was arrested for investigation of drunken driving on Feb. 6 after he brushed a volunteer firefighter with a fire truck while backing up.

The incident occurred as firefighters fought a blaze at the paramedic station behind the fire house in Mark Twain east of Dayton.

Dekker, who said he drank wine with his wife at dinner that night, registered a 0.14 blood-alcohol content level in a breath test at the scene.

He has pleaded innocent to charges and faces a preliminary hearing April 2.

The fire district board suspended him with pay on Feb. 9.

Dekker's lawyer, Robert Linder, said as a consultant to the district, Dekker will receive the same pay rate he received in his $40,000-a-year job as district chief.

The consulting agreement is contingent upon Dekker abstaining from alcohol and obtaining a county business license.

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