Hartford Fire Department Sued by One of Its Own

Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra is also named in the lawsuit.

Hartford Deputy Fire Chief Dan Nolan has filed a lawsuit against his chief and the mayor days after he was suspended without pay.

Nolan was invited to testify April 16 before a panel looking into the line-of-duty death of firefighter Kevin Bell. He made comments that were critical of department leadership, calling the chief a "Bambi."

Department leadership said Nolan's discipline stemmed from his decision to stay and talk to the media after being ordered back to work. Nolan was suspended for a month without pay for failing to follow orders and being absent without leave.

"That's all a sham to punish him for the viewpoint of his speech," said Nolan's attorney, Mario Cerame.

Nolan said it was not clear that the interim assistant chief who ordered him back to work outranked him. He added that he asked Fire Chief Carlos Huertas to tell him what to do and Huertas did not respond.

Neither Huertas or the office of Hartford Mayor Mayor Pedro Segarra will comment on the lawsuit.

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