Fire union speaks out for first time since firings and suspension of 5 SLCFD firefighters

The union president from the Professional Firefighters and Paramedics Local 1377 union is set to speak publicly for the first time since the St. Lucie County Fire District terminated three firefighters and suspended two others over rookie hazing allegations.

Union leaders are expected to double down on their stance that the disciplinary actions were wrongful and retaliatory, maintaining that video clips of crew members using a modified bug zapper showed consensual station horseplay rather than malicious hazing. They plan to point to an earlier Fort Pierce Police Department investigation that found no criminal wrongdoing, noting that none of the firefighters involved considered themselves victims.

During the upcoming briefing, union leaders will address newly released investigative recordings and internal documents that they claim expose deep-seated procedural flaws within district leadership. The union is expected to highlight an audio recording of a suspended firefighter expressing shock after learning his internal grievance would not remain anonymous, alongside past ethics complaints against top administrators regarding conflicts of interest. Local 1377 representatives plan to argue that district leadership pursued extreme discipline to quiet whistleblowers who voiced concerns about internal department culture and administrative oversight.

The union will also outline its next steps as all five disciplined firefighters move forward into binding arbitration after rejecting the district's internal grievance outcomes. The union's legal team intends to present sworn statements, police findings, and administrative records during arbitration to fight for full reinstatement and back pay for terminated firefighters Jordon Hutchinson, Christopher Baldwin, and Douglas Boudrias.

The St. Lucie County Fire District has declined further comment, citing ongoing contractual proceedings, but leadership previously defended the firings by stating an independent investigation uncovered severe safety violations that warranted strict zero-tolerance enforcement.

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CBS12 News learned Wednesday morning that Fire Chief Jeff Lee plans to negotiate with the union to avoid arbitration, but the district hasn't said what those negotiations would look like.