Check this out:
Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer has suspended Metro Parks Director Mike Heitz a day after the department head was videotaped attempting to drive his city-issued vehicle while allegedly intoxicated.
On Monday, WAVE 3 observed Heitz drinking at a local restaurant and then getting behind the wheel of his city vehicle in preparation to drive. After being questioned by a reporter, Heitz did not drive and took another ride home.
-SNIP-
“This is a serious issue, and I will not tolerate city employees potentially endangering the lives of innocent people,” Fischer said in a news release.
It’s the perfect opportunity for Greg Fischer to lead.
If he means what he says about taking this seriously?
Then he’ll fire Heitz – today – and tell him to get his ass some help. No resignation. No apology. No pat-a-cake. He may be a great guy but there’s zero excuse for this and Heitz knows it.
And there are plenty of Parks employees capable of taking on the job of director.
20 responses so far ↓
1 problem // Oct 25, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Unfortunately his interim replacement, Assistant Director Marty Storch, is universally despised by the rank and file employees at Metro Parks. Things could get ugly once this bullying megalomaniac gets some real power.
2 Watcher // Oct 25, 2011 at 5:32 pm
Now if Flack will investigate and follow Richmond, he will get a real story. Oops, nevermind he’s nowhere to be found!
3 Studs Terkel // Oct 25, 2011 at 6:19 pm
Fischer needs to fire Heitz. This just indicates what everyone already knows. Metro management employees of a certain level are above consequences. Any rank and file employee caught taking even one sip of booze and then getting in a metro vehicle would be handed his walking papers asap.
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
4 radioman // Oct 25, 2011 at 6:50 pm
I agree with Mr Problem. There could be problems.
5 Citizen~Z // Oct 25, 2011 at 8:43 pm
We’re talking about Metro now… where rank and file employees are given 45 day advanced notices on upcoming drug testing. Do you really think someone drinking and then sitting in a vehicle, keep in mind that he didn’t drive it, will warrant a stiff penalty… I think not. I predict a slap on the wrist.
6 oos // Oct 25, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Apparently they do have video of that too.
7 Ryan // Oct 26, 2011 at 5:30 am
RE: him not actually driving, this isn’t his first offense. The fact that he got caught in the act, and stopped doesn’t mitigate it in the least. He needs to be fired. This should be a zero tolerance situation. Even if you’re gonna give him a chance, this is his third offense (granted one was a long time ago, but it shows he hasn’t learned).
8 Studs Terkel // Oct 26, 2011 at 7:43 am
Citizen-Z, i don’t know what makes you think metro employees get advance notice on drug testing. That is just flat out a myth. The only testing priograms metro has are pre-employement drug screening and random testing for comercial vehicle drivers based on federal law. The random screening is done by a contractor, not metro government. Any employee with a cdl that fails a random screen is fired, no questions asked.
9 Citizen~Z // Oct 26, 2011 at 10:21 am
@Studs… It’s not the norm, I’ll grant you that, but have we forgotten the EMS incident where EMS employees where given advanced notice regarding department wide drug testing?
10 jake // Oct 26, 2011 at 10:26 am
EMS is hardly indicative of the problems within the rest of Metro Gubmint.
EMS is a clusterfuck in and of itself.
Not that those same problems don’t exist in other branches, but that is one poop mix that’s on its own.
11 Jeff Rogers // Oct 26, 2011 at 12:22 pm
Damn Jake, you really don’t like local government. What do you like?
#slidetheboysomeantidepressents
12 Cavemouse // Oct 26, 2011 at 12:36 pm
Despite the fact everyone at EMS was warned THIS TIME, one came up positive for pot. Some people never learn…EMS still has random drug testing and has for many years.
13 jake // Oct 26, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Jeff Rogers: Are you suggesting that it is inappropriate to question local government and to demand accountability and swift action for a change?
Or are you suggesting that I am mentally ill for daring to question your beloved Greg Fischer?
Because – as any nitwit with an eye and ability to read can see – this was a big damn deal in local media. Hence the links to all of the stories and outrage over the incident.
What I don’t like is bitter old queens who don’t have the guts to stand up to me in person when I offer my constructive opinion of elected officials and double standards, rather than attack personally.
14 JTT // Oct 26, 2011 at 1:42 pm
EMS was given notice in the context of a “we’re gonna test everyone” notice – that isn’t the norm. But everyone who drives a “city car” is subject to testing at any time, and should be. EVERYONE who drives a city car knows that they cannot drink anything and drive, no excuses, ever, for not reason. Training isn’t needed, they all know, he knew. He needs to go now, don’t let the door hitya on the way out. Even he said he didn’t have an alcohol problem, so rehab don’t get it, he may not even be an alcoholic (liking to drink alcohol doesn’t make you one) – he is just arrogant and figures he can do what he wants, when he wants.
15 Studs Terkel // Oct 26, 2011 at 2:01 pm
If the wave3 teaser isn’t just rank sensationalism the he is probably gone. They claim to have video os him drinking and then driving. I say probably because in metro government “zero tolerence” means zero tolerence for “boots on the ground” guys. guys at Heitz’s level are generally above consequences for their acrtions.
16 jake // Oct 26, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Meloche and Zelinsky perfectly illustrate Studs’ point.
17 The Tim // Oct 26, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Hey, Greg! Be a leader (for once) and fire the guy!
18 totalfailure // Oct 26, 2011 at 10:27 pm
A growing list of Fischy Failures from year 1.
LMAS – Nothing and more animals died
Food Trucks – made it worse
Councilwoman Green – Failed to call her out and demand resignation
MSD – Done absolutely nothing and waiting for Crit to do what he can’t
Continuous stupid tweets and facebook posts – Shows he and his staff are out-of-touch
Allows his staff to bully and threat those who dare question them.
Wont fire Heitz
Whoever is going to run against him in four years, please start making your list. It’s pretty clear it is going to get a lot longer. He can’t even manage to shovel a piece of dirt for a photo op. We certainly can’t expect him to lead.
19 ZAA // Oct 27, 2011 at 4:35 pm
A little know fact in this case is a week prior to Flack’s report someone had seen Heitz drinking at KT’s for 2 hours and called the police as he was entering his city vehicle. Only to be told by the dispatcher “even though you have seen him drinking at the bar there isn’t enough probable cause for anyone to pull him over”. Bravo to Flack for getting enough evidence on Heitz to prove this wasn’t an one time thing. Heitz is a regular at KT’s bar and it was WELL KNOWN by the people above and below him. Heitz thought he was being slick by backing his city owned SUV up against the wall that runs behind Brakeway (the business next to KT’s). Heitz made a clear decision to drink and drive and there isn’t any excuse for his actions. Admitting he was wrong only after being caught doesn’t make up for anything and he should have been fired on the spot. It is a good thing that Heitz is getting some help for his alcohol problem. But he had a chance to do that on his own in 2007 when he received a DUI. Shame on the former Mayor along with Heitz’s Assistant, Marty Storch, and other co-workers who knew he could be found drinking at KT’s after work. Shame on our new Mayor for not having the guts to rid of our city of arrogant city officials that think they are above any rules.
20 zmoney7272 // Nov 6, 2011 at 12:38 am
This guy will be slapped on the wrist, he issued his statement he’s been sent off to a rehab center for about a month(just long enough for people to forget about this). Look, these politicicians look out for each other and Mike Heitz has been involved with metro parks and the government off and on since the 70′s, he has a lot of friends and a lot of clout. This is what we get for electing Greg Fischer. I hoped after the 20 year fiasco that was Jerry Abramson, we might not elect someone with the same bad ideas and leadership style. This type of protection for government officials is nothing new for democrats like Fischer. He has labor unions wrapped around his figure and he will not do anythign to tick them off and firing Hietz would not make them happy(Heitz is friendly to them, firing him would threaten their political rackett. Not to mention the fact that unions contribute directly to democrat candidates like Greg Fischer). I don’t know why anyone is surprised that Fischer and others in local government are circling the wagons, Jerry did it often and this won’t be the last time that Fischer does it, thats how unions and their political friends get by.
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