Two St. Lucie County firefighters are disputing their terminations over hazing allegations, claiming their actions were misinterpreted and that their firings were retaliatory.According to a media release from St. Lucie County Fire District Chief Jeff Lee, the situation began in 2025 with an investigation into complaints of “large-scale workplace harassment and bullying” at St. Lucie County Fire District Station 1 in Fort Pierce. While no disciplinary actions were taken, some personnel were transferred to other stations. In March 2026, administrators received videos recorded in 2024 that allegedly showed senior personnel using a device to “intentionally administer painful electrical shocks to subordinate personnel on duty.” The fire district labeled the behavior as hazing. Three of the senior personnel in the videos had also been part of the 2025 harassment and bullying investigation. All three were terminated. Jordon Hutchinson and Chris Baldwin are two of those firefighters who were terminated.“It’s been hard,” Baldwin said. Hutchinson and Baldwin acknowledged shocking their coworkers but strongly denied that it was hazing. “It’s about inclusion. It’s about bringing the family together. No one was hurt. No one was coerced into their involvement,” Baldwin said. “It was guys joking around at the station. There was no ill intent whatsoever in it. Every supposed victim and witness said the same thing,” Hutchinson said. Hutchinson and Baldwin believe their terminations were not related to hazing but were acts of retaliation. They said after the 2025 investigation, they filed three separate complaints against top administrators, including the fire chief. They believe their terminations are payback for those complaints.“All three of us still love this job. Nobody is going to change our minds on that. We definitely want our jobs back and keep our jobs and serve the citizens of the county,” Hutchinson said. The firefighters union has filed for arbitration to help them regain their jobs, and the process is ongoing.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. —
Two St. Lucie County firefighters are disputing their terminations over hazing allegations, claiming their actions were misinterpreted and that their firings were retaliatory.
According to a media release from St. Lucie County Fire District Chief Jeff Lee, the situation began in 2025 with an investigation into complaints of “large-scale workplace harassment and bullying” at St. Lucie County Fire District Station 1 in Fort Pierce.
While no disciplinary actions were taken, some personnel were transferred to other stations.
In March 2026, administrators received videos recorded in 2024 that allegedly showed senior personnel using a device to “intentionally administer painful electrical shocks to subordinate personnel on duty.”
The fire district labeled the behavior as hazing.
Three of the senior personnel in the videos had also been part of the 2025 harassment and bullying investigation.
All three were terminated.
Jordon Hutchinson and Chris Baldwin are two of those firefighters who were terminated.
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Two fired St. Lucie County firefighters, Chris Baldwin (left) and Jordon Hutchinson, talk exclusively to WPBF reporter Ari Hait.
“It’s been hard,” Baldwin said.
Hutchinson and Baldwin acknowledged shocking their coworkers but strongly denied that it was hazing.
“It’s about inclusion. It’s about bringing the family together. No one was hurt. No one was coerced into their involvement,” Baldwin said.
“It was guys joking around at the station. There was no ill intent whatsoever in it. Every supposed victim and witness said the same thing,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson and Baldwin believe their terminations were not related to hazing but were acts of retaliation.
They said after the 2025 investigation, they filed three separate complaints against top administrators, including the fire chief.
They believe their terminations are payback for those complaints.
“All three of us still love this job. Nobody is going to change our minds on that. We definitely want our jobs back and keep our jobs and serve the citizens of the county,” Hutchinson said.
The firefighters union has filed for arbitration to help them regain their jobs, and the process is ongoing.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.