PITTSBURGH — A veteran Pittsburgh paramedic was suspended without pay after city officials determined his simultaneous employment as an Allegheny County fire academy instructor violated the city’s Home Rule Charter.
Pittsburgh EMS Chief Amera Gilchrist suspended John Hill for five days without pay on July 29, with termination pending, EMS union president Jon Atkinson told TribLive. Hill has worked as a paramedic since February 1995.
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The Home Rule Charter generally prohibits city employees from holding another paid government position, with limited exceptions, such as military service.
Hill resigned from his city position less than a year before he would have been eligible to collect his pension.
Hill, Atkinson and city and county officials declined to comment or did not respond to requests for comment.
Pittsburgh police union President Robert Swartzwelder criticized the city’s decision to discipline Hill, questioning how officials enforce the Home Rule Charter.
“It is 100% selective enforcement,” Swartzwelder said. “You’re terminating a 31-year veteran employee and you’re using the Home Rule Charter as the excuse. Yet, you let the police command staff violate the Home Rule Charter with impunity. If that’s the understanding, then those who violate the Home Rule Charter in the police bureau should be terminated, too.”
A TribLive investigation found at least half of Pittsburgh police commanders live outside the city despite charter residency requirements, with Mayor Corey O’Connor’s approval.
Pittsburgh police Chief Jason Lando has also questioned the charter’s residency restrictions when selecting department leaders.
