Michigan Firefighters Claim Township Blocked Promotions To Full-Time Positions After They Backed Chief Over Staffing Dispute

Four part-time firefighters in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan have filed a federal lawsuit claiming township officials changed the hiring criteria for full-time firefighter positions after they publicly supported Fire Chief Jamie Jent and criticized what they describe as unsafe staffing levels in the department. 

The plaintiffs—Alexander Newton, Alfred Perry, Ryan Jeltema, and Jakob Stifferman—are all current or former part-time members of the Grand Blanc Township Fire Department. According to the complaint, each hoped to obtain one of the department’s full-time positions and had previously expected to qualify under the township’s longstanding internal hiring process, which limited applicants to current part-time firefighters who met a minimum written test score and then advanced to interviews.

The complaint alleges that some of the plaintiffs had previously interviewed for full-time openings and received encouraging feedback. Stifferman claims Township Superintendent Dennis Liimatta told him in 2024, “I can see you in this position if we get another spot.” 

The lawsuit alleges that when Jamie Jent became fire chief in April 2025, he began pressing township officials to add more full-time firefighters, citing staffing shortages. The complaint states that at the time the department operated with six full-time firefighters and approximately 28 to 30 part-time firefighters serving a township population of more than 40,000 residents. Plaintiffs contend that because part-time firefighters were not required to work every scheduled shift, staffing often left only six firefighters immediately available.   

The complaint links the staffing dispute to a September 28, 2025 incident at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, where a gunman allegedly drove a pickup truck into the chapel, opened fire with what the complaint describes as an AK-47 style rifle, and then set the building on fire. According to the lawsuit, only five Grand Blanc Township firefighters responded initially, requiring assistance from neighboring departments. Plaintiffs allege that after that event, Chief Jent continued pressing for more full-time staffing. 

The lawsuit says that by October 2025 Superintendent Liimatta was seeking to remove Chief Jent and succeeded in having termination placed on the agenda for an October 28 township meeting. The firefighters claim they publicly supported Chief Jent, speaking on social media and to residents, friends, and family about what they believed was an effort to terminate him because of his push for safer staffing levels. The complaint alleges they did so as private citizens on a matter of public concern. It further claims public opposition became so strong that the proposed termination was removed from the meeting agenda the morning of October 28, although hundreds of residents still attended that evening’s meeting to support Chief Jent. 

According to the complaint, after that public controversy the township changed the qualifications for full-time firefighter positions in a way that excluded the four plaintiffs from even taking the test, while also opening the process to outside applicants. The firefighters allege that the original process had remained unchanged for years and that the new criteria were adopted specifically to prevent them from being promoted because they had exercised their First Amendment rights.   

The suit brings claims under 42 U.S.C. §1983 against both Grand Blanc Township and Superintendent Liimatta, alleging retaliation for protected speech in violation of the First Amendment. The plaintiffs contend their comments about staffing and public safety addressed matters of public concern and that changing promotional qualifications constituted adverse employment action. They characterize what occurred to them as the denial of promotions to full-time positions.

They seek damages for alleged lost earning capacity, loss of career opportunities, emotional distress, and punitive damages.  Here is a copy of the complaint.