A battle is brewing at the Golden Gate fire district, with the union president alleging that Chief Robert Metzger has violated federal law regarding overtime pay, and threatened to withhold benefits from firefighters’ families if they pursued a lawsuit against the district.

Union President Christian Tobin also filed a complaint against Metzger with the Florida Ethics Commission — not on the union’s behalf — alleging that he fraudulently filed a “Drug-Free Workplace” application with the district’s workers compensation carrier to obtain a discount.

Metzger called Tobin’s allegations, which he has filed in several letters to district fire commissioners, “wild-eyed accusations.” Since taking the helm of the department in February 2008, Metzger said he has been open to working with the union to solve problems.

“He is biting the hand every time I extend the olive branch,” Metzger said of Tobin.

Metzger contends that Tobin is trying to get him fired for reasons he said are unclear.

“He’s calling for my immediate discharge,” Metzger said. “Can you believe that? A fun-loving guy like me.”

Tobin disagrees.

“No one gets anyone fired,” he said. “You get yourself fired.”

Tobin’s complaints are not new. In fact, he raised many of the same concerns a couple of years ago with then-Chief Don Peterson, including concerns about overtime compensation.

For years, if not decades, Tobin contends the district was violating the federal Fair Labor Standards Act by improperly paying overtime based only on the firefighters’ base salaries without including other incentive payments. He first addressed the issue with Metzger about six months into the chief’s tenure.
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