Coastal Fire Chief resigns amid misconduct investigation

The Pinellas Suncoast Fire & Rescue District’s (PSFRD) governing board will meet Thursday evening to discuss Chief Jeffrey Davidson’s recent resignation and its impact on operations.

Davidson submitted his resignation letter Dec. 23 amid an investigation into his alleged misconduct. A South Florida-based law completed in early December found the fire chief violated the district’s mission and values policy but did not recommend disciplinary action.

PSFRD services the coastal communities of Belleair Beach, Belleair Shore, Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores and Oakhurst. Davidson, who became chief in 2021, wrote that his decision came after “much reflection” and under “significant duress.”

“The treatment my family and I have been subjected to over the past six months by the Union executive board has been nothing short of distressing,” Davidson said. “The emotional toll of these actions has left me unable to continue my current role under these circumstances.”

PSFRD’s governing board launched the investigation after receiving two formal complaints from union firefighters in September. They accused Davidson of misappropriating funds, violating privacy laws, favoritism and retaliation.

Davidson allegedly brandished a firearm while driving after a lieutenant expressed his ongoing mental health issues. The incident was reported to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office months later during a welfare check at the chief’s residence.

While deputies found no criminal misconduct, the local chapter of the International Association of Firefighters claimed that Davidson’s increasingly erratic behavior “undermined the trust and confidence of our membership.”

Assistant Fire Chief David Karpinecz filed one of the complaints following the alleged firearm incident. The union wrote that Davidson then placed Karpinecz on administrative leave without explanation.

PSFRD’s fire commission unanimously approved an over $20,000 contract with the law firm of Weiss Serota Helfman Pastoriza to investigate the allegations against Davidson. The attorneys presented their findings Dec. 9.

Milton R. Collins, a partner at the firm, said he sustained two complaints against conduct “or essentially his leadership.” However, he did not believe those were “earth-shattering or egregious violations.”

“A lot of the employees have very strong feelings about the administration, about work conditions, and I do credit their testimony,” Collins said.

In his resignation letter, Davidson wrote that Karpinecz and union president Greg Hott fabricated their accusations. Davidson said he has “strict proof” that he believes constitutes libel and slander.

“The deliberate actions to harm my character and reputation are unacceptable, and I have reason to believe that this was done with malicious intent,” he added. “A huge amount of district funding was spent on an investigation that only revealed what we already knew – that many union members did not like me because they did not get everything they wanted in negotiations.”

Fire Chief Jeffrey Davidson. Photo: PSFR.

Davidson wrote that his last day with PSFRD is Feb. 21. While he is required to give a 60-day notice, Davidson noted it could take up to 180 days to find a suitable replacement.

He offered to negotiate an extension until the transition is complete to ensure multi-million-dollar projects come to fruition. Davidson wrote that he obtained over $4 million from the county, $1 million in federal grants, $1 million in state appropriations and purchased the land for a fourth fire station that will “directly improved the 15-year problem of response times” in the district’s northernmost areas.

He also noted that the design phase for a new fire station and operation center is 60% complete and entering the permitting stage. Davidson wrote that recent events left him no option but to resign, despite those accomplishments and his commitment to the position.

Davidson pledged he would present documents showing Karpinecz violated his contract by colluding with the union to have him terminated, “so as to not bring to light the wrongdoing I had discovered.” He accused Karpinecz of withholding information related to an investigation, and Hott of falsifying documents and promotional test scores.

Davidson said Karpinecz continued his attacks after the investigation. He also allegedly has a thumb drive containing records that highlight why Hott “was being terminated and allowed to resign from Seminole Fire Department, which include lying under investigation, making false statements under investigation, intimidating witnesses and sexual harassment.”

“Greg Hott’s antics at Seminole, which caused another firefighter to leave the fire service entirely, have now been brought to and continue at PSFRD,” Davidson continued.

The PSFRD board meeting regarding Davidson’s resignation is at 6 p.m. at the Belleair Beach Community Center. Commissioners plan to adopt a protocol for evaluating and selecting a successor.