ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 Orange County Fire Chief Anthony Rios announced his resignation, saying he takes responsibility for comments he made during a recent county budget presentation about the purchase of a county-assigned vehicle.<\/p>\n
Rios submitted his resignation Tuesday in a letter to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. His resignation takes effect July 31.<\/p>\n
In the letter, Rios said he decided to step down after reflecting on the responsibilities of public service and leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout my career, I have sought to lead with accountability, transparency, and integrity,\u201d Rios wrote. \u201cThose values have guided every decision I have made, and they continue to guide this one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rios\u2019 resignation follows questions raised during a recent budget workshop before the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. <\/p>\n
In his letter, he acknowledged that while the purchase of a county-assigned vehicle complied with county procurement policies and procedures, his response to commissioners \u201cdid not fully communicate the complete context and, as a result, could only be perceived as inaccurate.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs Fire Chief, I understand that intent does not diminish impact, and I accept full responsibility for my words,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n
Rios called serving as Orange County\u2019s fire chief \u201cthe greatest honor\u201d of his career and thanked Demings, the Board of County Commissioners, county leadership and the firefighters and staff of Orange County Fire Rescue for their support.<\/p>\n
He said he believes the department has undergone a significant cultural transformation over the past year, becoming \u201cstronger, more united, and better prepared than ever\u201d to serve the community.<\/p>\n
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