Former St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Chief Jim Large retired from firefighting amid a pall of allegations that he created a hostile and discriminatory work environment for women and minorities.<\/p>\n
Large left in March 2024 after Mayor Ken Welch said a review found no evidence to back the claims. But in the months since, Large remained a fixture at city fire stations and fire department ceremonies.<\/p>\n
Weeks ago, the city directed Large to provide advance notice of visits to fire stations, saying they have been become excessive and disruptive. The former chief said he has not returned since.<\/p>\n
Deputy Chief Brett Ciskoski sent a certified letter to Large\u2019s home the day after Christmas laying out visitation guidelines. Ciskoski wrote that Large\u2019s visits had continued after a verbal appeal to limit them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe volume and duration of these visits have created an operational interference, disrupted training, created unnecessary confusion for our on duty personnel, and have compromised the focused environment our personnel require,\u201d Ciskoski wrote.<\/p>\n
Ciskoski wrote that Large must give 48 hours notice prior to arriving at any station and to keep all future interactions with crews \u201cpositive and constructive in nature.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring your visit, refrain from direct involvement in ongoing operational drills, active incident discussions, or detailed personnel matters,\u201d Ciskoski wrote. \u201cThis allows our crews and officers to maintain their focus on current tasks and follow the established chain of command without interruption.\u201d<\/p>\n
Large told the Tampa Bay Times that he would check in with the officers at the stations he visited, the master station downtown and Station 6 in Central Oak Park.<\/p>\n
He said he would make sure he wasn\u2019t interfering with the work day. And he said he would often go around lunchtime. None of the officers at those stations complained, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the pettiness of the current fire chief and the current mayor,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s the same group of people that tried to attack me before, that if they see me, they complain when I\u2019m around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anonymous comments<\/a> from a city employee survey done in 2023 accused Large of fostering a workplace hostile to women and minorities. Seven firefighters echoed those complaints<\/a> in interviews with the Times.<\/p>\n Welch placed Large on administrative leave<\/a> but reinstated him<\/a> about two weeks laterafter what Welch described as \u201ca careful review of the facts\u201d produced no direct evidence of misbehavior.<\/p>\n That Christmas, Large\u2019s adult daughter publicly posted a photo to social media of her father grinning and holding a coffee mug that read: \u201cGo ahead, call HR.\u201d<\/a> About three weeks later, the city announced that Large\u2019s 50-year tenure with the department would come to an end in March<\/a>.<\/p>\n Welch said he wasn\u2019t happy about the photo of the coffee mug. Large was eligible for a base severance package of $52,000, which by city policy can only be paid out if employees retire or resign at the mayor\u2019s request or their job changes or is eliminated. Employees terminated for misconduct are ineligible for severance pay.<\/p>\n Large also received a payout of $21,670 in unused sick leave. He has been receiving a monthly pension of $7,542 since 2004.<\/p>\n Large said Welch\u2019s chief of staff, Doyle Walsh, rescinded an invite to him for a May 2024 employee recognition ceremony where he was scheduled to get his award for 50 years of service. He said Walsh told him he was already recognized at the mayor\u2019s State of the City address, but Large did not know he was going to be honored there and his family was not present with him.<\/p>\n \u201cEver since I left, it\u2019s been discrimination from this administration,\u201d Large said. \u201cIt\u2019s just been one thing after another.\u201d<\/p>\n Large has attended promotional ceremonies for the fire department, a memorial dedication and City Council committee meetings when a management evaluation done on the fire department was discussed. He said the study that found widespread fears of discrimination <\/a>in the department was \u201cpoorly done\u201d and omitted important fiscal points.<\/p>\n Large told the Times that he is thinking about running for mayor. He said what Large called Welch\u2019s lack of attendance at City Hall<\/a> bothered him.<\/p>\n \u201cKen Welch is a failure. Charlie Crist<\/a> is not the answer,\u201d he said, referring to the former governor who also has said he is considering whether to enter the race<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe city needs an option,\u201d Large said. \u201cThey need someone who will make tough decisions. I\u2019m considering all the options that might be out there.\u201d<\/p>\n