Half of the members of the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department walked out Monday, according to Fire Chief Jimmy Ellis.
Chief Ellis said during a monthly business meeting, volunteers presented a letter to him and his wife who is the treasurer. The letter asked the chief and his wife to step down from their positions.
Ellis said during his 30 years of service, this is not the first time something like this has happened.
“This hurts the department 100,000 times more than it hurts me. You can attack me but leave the department alone,” said Ellis.
“It hurt, it hurt me to the bone. My heart’s broken. I do everything I can to keep those guys safe, to take care of business out there and that’s how they treat me,” Chief Ellis.
Ellis said the volunteers were unhappy over issues related to money. He said they were complaining about the department being broke.
“A lot of people thinking they can do the job better than I can,” Ellis said.
Ellis said the department will continue to operate with the members that remained.
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis said if criminal allegations are brought to his attention then his department would most likely ask an outside agency to help with the investigation.
(Original story from yourbasin.com)
