administration-leadership Sexual Harassment Sexual misconduct Wrongful termination

Palm Beach Chief Rescinds Resignation

Curt Varone January 15, 2018

34 Less than a minute

Embattled Palm Beach County Fire Chief Jeff Collins, who resigned on Friday after meeting with county officials, has informed those officials he is rescinding his resignation.

Chief Collins resigned Friday following a meeting with County Administrator Verdenia Baker, Assistant County Administrator Nancy Bolton and Human Resources Director Wayne Condry. His lawyer, Salim Punjani, claims he resigned under duress after being coerced and intimidated.

Here is earlier coverage of his resignation:

Here is a letter from the Chief’s Attorney: 69940688244420-15184724

Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 50 years of fire service experience and 40 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. Besides his law degree, he has a MS in Forensic Psychology. 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.

Curt Varone has over 50 years of fire service experience and 40 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. Besides his law degree, he also has a master’s in forensic psychology. His fire service 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 three books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022), Managing Disciplinary Challenges in the Fire Service (2026), and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine, writing the Fire Law column.

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