The Hartford firefighter suspended in the spring after a drunken encounter at a local business has resigned after refusing to take a breathalyzer test at the fire station on Sunday, according to sources within the Hartford Fire Department.
Doug Caldwell had been assigned to work at Engine 16, the station where fallen firefighter Kevin Bell was employed, instead of his usual assignment at Engine 2.
Fire department sources said other firefighters suspected Caldwell of drinking on the job and called Employee Assistance Program officers to conduct a breath test. In order to keep his job, Caldwell was required to submit to random drug and alcohol testing but routinely called in sick during the week in an apparent effort to skirt testing.
After learning that officers had been called, Caldwell claimed he had a family emergency and needed to leave immediately. The firefighter in charge called the district chief to let him know, while a deputy chief on the job prevented Caldwell from driving off.
Chief Carlos Huertas arrived at the station and told Caldwell he would have to take a drug test, but the firefighter once again refused, walking off and shouting an expletive at the chief, sources told the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters.
That night, Huertas told members of every Hartford firehouse that Caldwell would no longer be allowed on the premises, according to sources within the fire department.
Caldwell formally resigned on Tuesday after 16 years with the department. Hartford fire Capt. Helene Lynch announced Caldwell's resignation in a press release issued Tuesday afternoon.
"The Hartford Fire Department wishes Mr. Caldwell success in his future endeavors," Lynch wrote.
Caldwell was placed on paid administrative leave in April for allegedly breaking a supermarket counter during a drunken outburst, then threatening the store owner and screaming profanities at him, the owner said.
The Hartford Fire Department also launched an internal investigation into Caldwell’s conduct following the incident.
