Battalion Chief Ken Olsen

[December 5th, 2001]

In late November, Fire Bureau Chief Ed Wilson disciplined five firefighters for their role in the racial hazing of their colleague Rick Fizer, an African American. The rogues in this story are too numerous to list, but one stands out in particular: Battalion Chief Ken Olsen , a 27-year veteran of the bureau.

On Nov. 26, Olsen was officially informed that he was being demoted from battalion chief to captain, which will cost him upwards of $12,500 annually. The news couldn't have come as much of a surprise. At the end of October, following an outside investigation, Olsen received
a letter from Wilson and City Commmisioner Jim Francesconi notifying him of pending
disciplinary action.

Two weeks later, on Nov. 14, Olsen filed a disability claim with the city's Fire and Police Pension Fund. If Olsen's claim is granted, his disability payments (75 percent of his salary) will be based on his battalion-chief rate rather than reflect his demotion. If things break his way, Olsen could conceivably sail into full retirement in May 2003 at a battalion chief's salary. WW was unable to reach Olsen for comment.

The timing of Olsen's claim obviously raises questions about its validity. We here at Rogue Central aren't the only ones who are suspicious. On Nov. 30, the pension fund's four-member expediting committee reviewed Olsen's claim. Babette Heeftle, the fund's administrator, says the committee approves the majority of claims right away. But last Friday one member of the expediting committee, city Treasurer David Thurman, balked at Olsen's claim.

Thurman declined to comment on his decision, but his "No" vote means that Olsen's claim will now be heard in public in front of the entire 12-member pension board when it meets Dec. 11.

We'll listen with interest.