TARRANT, Ala. — For the second time in four years, Tarrant Fire Chief Jason Rickels has been fired, this time by the city council over allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate comments. In 2021, Tarrant Mayor Waymon Newton fired Rickels following his arrest in Georgia, but the dismissal was overturned due to procedural errors, requiring Rickels to be reinstated. However, the city had already hired a new chief.
Rickels offered to leave if the city compensated him with back pay and restitution, but the city did not comply. “Since they wouldn’t pay Jason, we asserted ourselves and he started showing up for work,” said Rickels’ attorney, Scott Morro.
The disciplinary hearing for Rickels was prompted by an email from a firefighter, which detailed morale issues stemming from having two fire chiefs. The email also included an accusation of sexual harassment against Rickels. Morro explained the incident, saying, “Jason’s at work and his 23-year buddy is messing with him and he flicks at his crotch to say get away from me. And some people said he touched him. Jason wasn’t sure if he did and he never signed a complaint.”…