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<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\tTwo 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.\u201cIt\u2019s been hard,\u201d Baldwin said. Hutchinson and Baldwin acknowledged shocking their coworkers but strongly denied that it was hazing. \u201cIt\u2019s about inclusion. It\u2019s about bringing the family together. No one was hurt. No one was coerced into their involvement,\u201d Baldwin said. \u201cIt was guys joking around at the station. There was no ill intent whatsoever in it. Every supposed victim and witness said the same thing,\u201d 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.\u201cAll 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,\u201d 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.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Two St. Lucie County firefighters are disputing their terminations over hazing allegations, claiming their actions were misinterpreted and that their firings were retaliatory.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
While no disciplinary actions were taken, some personnel were transferred to other stations. <\/p>\n
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.” <\/p>\n
The fire district labeled the behavior as hazing. <\/p>\n
Three of the senior personnel in the videos had also been part of the 2025 harassment and bullying investigation. <\/p>\n
All three were terminated. <\/p>\n
Jordon Hutchinson and Chris Baldwin are two of those firefighters who were terminated.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tHearst Owned\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwo fired\u00a0St. Lucie County firefighters, Chris Baldwin (left) and Jordon Hutchinson, talk exclusively to WPBF reporter Ari Hait.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been hard,\u201d Baldwin said. <\/p>\n
Hutchinson and Baldwin acknowledged shocking their coworkers but strongly denied that it was hazing. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about inclusion. It\u2019s about bringing the family together. No one was hurt. No one was coerced into their involvement,\u201d Baldwin said. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was guys joking around at the station. There was no ill intent whatsoever in it. Every supposed victim and witness said the same thing,\u201d Hutchinson said. <\/p>\n
Hutchinson and Baldwin believe their terminations were not related to hazing but were acts of retaliation. <\/p>\n
They said after the 2025 investigation, they filed three separate complaints against top administrators, including the fire chief. <\/p>\n
They believe their terminations are payback for those complaints.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll 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,\u201d Hutchinson said. <\/p>\n
The firefighters union has filed for arbitration to help them regain their jobs, and the process is ongoing.<\/p>\n
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25<\/a><\/p>\n