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Retirees allege retaliation and culture concerns in Gilbert Fire and Rescue; call for investigation
Summary
Two retired Gilbert firefighters told the council they faced harassment and legal actions after retirement and called for an investigation into the fire department leadership and workplace culture; they requested the council review conduct and legal spending on personnel matters.
Two former Gilbert Fire Department employees used the meeting’s public‑comment period on March 25 to accuse department leadership of targeting them after retirement and to urge the council to investigate department culture and legal spending.
Josh Reynolds, who described a 20‑year career with Gilbert Fire, said that after his 2022 retirement he was subject to an order of protection brought by current firefighters and later faced misdemeanor charges that were dropped before trial. Reynolds said he was barred from certain station events and that Gilbert’s fire chief had tried to use his official position to discourage outside media appearances about the matter. "I was targeted and harassed by your town leaders and your fire chief," Reynolds told the council, and asked the council to investigate his allegations.
Dan Reynolds, another former employee and meeting speaker, described an incident at a retiree breakfast in which Chief Rob Duggan called police to remove a retiree. Dan Reynolds praised the responding officers’ professionalism but said the department’s approach was "unfair" and symptomatic of a broader "toxic" workplace culture. Both speakers said town legal resources had been used in actions involving them and questioned whether those public‑funded expenses were appropriate.
Council members did not make a public determination at the meeting. In response to public comments, the council’s mayor and manager indicated awareness of personnel and legal matters but did not announce an independent investigation or administrative action at that time.
Ending: The council heard retiree allegations of retaliatory conduct and requests for review; no formal council action or independent investigation was announced during the meeting. Speakers asked the council to examine legal spending and department leadership conduct.
