The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 17, 2009

Bradley-Prosperity fire chief arrested, offers resignation

By Amelia A. Pridemore

The Bradley-Prosperity fire chief has been arrested, and department officials say he offered to resign.

However, a motion to accept his resignation died during a Monday department board of directors meeting, the officials said.

Chief Bruce James was arrested Tuesday on a misdemeanor battery warrant, State Police Trooper 1st Class C.H. Mitchell said. James turned himself in, and he was released on $500 bond.

No information was available about what led to James’ arrest.

According to a statement from the Bradley-Prosperity Volunteer Fire Department, James offered his resignation to the board members if they did not believe he was capable of doing his job. One board member made a motion to accept the resignation. No one would second the motion, and it died.

The meeting never got past the public comment section of the agenda, according to the statement. Several items still need to be discussed, including the recent evaluation from the state fire marshal’s office and a plan to correct issues uncovered by an inspection of training records, equipment and maintenance records.

Department members and board members said they would try to complete their meetings Tuesday night.

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