Controversial West Palm Fire Captain Beats DUI Charge

Posted by: Curt Varone December 12, 2011 2 Comments

A controversial West Palm Beach firefighter is back in the news following his acquittal on DUI charges. Fire Captain Rick Curtis was originally convicted of drunk driving back in May, sentenced to 3 days in jail, and terminated from West Palm Beach Fire Rescue.

However, when he learned that the judge in the case, Marni Bryson, had an undisclosed relationship with firefighters’ union vice-president Doug Greene, with whom he was at odds, Captain Curtis sought a new trial. The request for a new trial was granted in June, and last Friday Captain Curtis was acquitted. He is now seeking to be reinstated to the department.

Captain Curtis has been involved in a number of lawsuits and EEO complaints against the West Palm Beach Fire department over the past 10 years. Here’s a link to some of the details of those cases.

More on the DUI controversy, and more on the acquittal.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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