Tilllamook Fire chief announces resignation

Tillamook Fire District Chief Jeff McBrayer announced that he would be resigning from the district at the end of May at a meeting of the district’s board of directors on April 16.

In his letter of resignation, McBrayer cited concerns over his and his family’s safety following recent work-related events as the reason for his departure. McBrayer has accepted the position of chief at the Netarts-Oceanside Fire District, where he will take over in June.

The concerns about safety arose following an investigation prompted by allegations of misconduct by McBrayer from other district personnel, which showed all allegations to be unsubstantiated.

Three firefighters approached fire district board chair Brian Cameron with a variety of concerns about McBrayer’s behavior as chief in late January, prompting the investigation. The trio alleged that McBrayer was using his district vehicle excessively and for out-of-district trips without selecting a duty officer, that he may have used the district’s fuel card to fill up a personal vehicle and purchase items for personal use from NAPA Auto Parts, that he was late in paying a contractor, that he was not punctual for shifts and that he was missing deadlines for grant applications.

The district’s investigation found that McBrayer’s use of the district vehicle was in line with his contract, which allowed him to use it for personal and business trips. They also found that when McBrayer had left the district in the vehicle he had selected duty officers to cover for him.

After reviewing surveillance video from the fueling station, the board determined that the chief had filled two different district vehicles in a short period of time on the day flagged for potential fuel theft. As for the items from NAPA Auto Parts, two of the missing items were located in the fire station and a district vehicle and the board concluded that while a container of windshield washer fluid was unaccounted for, no misconduct had occurred.

The board also found that McBrayer had been following the terms of his contract regarding his work attendance, meeting grant application deadlines and had been following the advice of legal counsel by not paying the vendor.

The investigation report was submitted in late March, but according to McBrayer members of the district continued to display “unacceptable behavior,” leading him to resign.

“Incidents of trespassing onto my residential property and the receipt of threatening communications directed toward myself and my family have forced me to take this action,” McBrayer wrote in his letter of resignation.

McBrayer said that it pained him to leave under the circumstances but that “the safety and security of my loved ones must take precedence.” He also thanked the City of Tillamook and its citizens and visitors for their support during his tenure and said it had been an honor to serve as the district’s chief.

At the meeting Cameron and Board Member Chris Kell expressed their disappointment at McBrayer’s decision and wished him well in his future endeavors.