Black Forest Fire District places Chief and other leaders on administrative leave, documents show
*This article has been updated on August 1, 2024, to reflect a response from Captain Michael Torres about the situation*
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - KRDO13 Investigates has learned that the Black Forest Fire Protection District (BFFD) has placed multiple leaders on administrative leave while an investigation plays out.
The BFFD Board President says that Colorado Springs and Monument Fire, have been providing battalion chiefs for any house fires, wildfires, or traffic accidents, in Black Forest, as the BFFD has been without its Fire Chief, PJ Langmaid since July 1st.
Meeting minutes from the Jul 1 board meeting, explain that there was a motion to place Chief Langmaid on paid Administrative Leave, until July 17, due to an investigation into allegations that were made on June 28. The motion carried with 3-2 vote by the board.
The board noted that preliminary findings from the investigation, were to be presented to the board on July 15, by 5 p.m.
Less than a week later, meeting minutes from a July 6 board meeting obtained by KRDO13 Investigates, show that the Fire District extended Langmaid's paid administrative leave until further notice, while the investigation continues.
Those allegations have not been named specifically, as the District's Board has repeatedly gone behind closed doors in an Executive Sessions during board meetings throughout July, to consult legal advice and discuss the investigation, as is typical for any board overseeing an organization, such as the BFFD.
Those same meeting minutes on July 6, outline some issues within leadership as this situation has developed.
It revealed there was a vote of no-confidence in Chief Langmaid on June 30, just two days after those allegations were made against the him. Some members of the District, however, expressed that the vote of no-confidence was not indicative of everyone's feelings within the staff.
Those allegations, though, were deemed to be a terminable offense, and it did prompt a vote amongst the board to sever Langmaid's contract as Chief. The vote failed with a 2-2 vote, and instead his paid administrative leave was extended until further notice.
In that meeting, Chief Chris Piepenburg and Captain Michael Torres were also put on paid administrative leave. One board member claimed the culture within the district would be "Untenable", and the, "grapevine, alive and well", further adding that it would be an "unhealthy environment", with Piepenberg and Torres still present while the investigation continues. That motion was carried.
In response to the situation, Captain Michael Torres tells KRDO13 that he believes the claims made by the aforementioned board member are not fair or popular amongst the rest of the line members within the department, and members from the community. He says that he takes his job very seriously, and it hurts him to be away from the fire district.
In response to multiple questions for Board members about the investigation, KRDO13 Investigates was sent this statement by Board Chairman Nate Dowden:
"The Black Forest Fire Rescue/Protection District Board of Directors has convened and conducted both its regular meeting and additional Special Meetings throughout July 2024 to address personnel-related issues that have been brought to the Board of Directors. The Board has authorized temporary actions including authorizing a third party to be engaged to allow for a full and fair investigation to be efficiently completed.
BFFD continues to provide all Fire/EMS services, uninterruped, for the District. Existing mutual support agreements enable Battalion Chief support from Monument Fire or Colorado Springs Fire Department, if necessary.
The city will be assisting in call that Chiefs were tagged to under our mutual aid agreements and the Board has further authorized the use of appointed individual(s) to be temporarily available to provide day-to-day leadership presence pending completion of its investigation."
-Nate Dowden
