UK NEWS

FIRE CHIEF IS ARRESTED FOR 'CHILD PORN'

Frank Sheehan: Bailed for further inquiries

Thursday November 20,2008

By Martin Stote

A FIRE chief awarded the CBE earlier this year resigned yesterday after police arrested him on suspicion of making indecent images of children.

Frank Sheehan, 55, was detained on Tuesday, apparently at his home, and bailed for further inquiries.

Staff at West Midlands Fire Service where he is Chief Fire Officer, were initially told his resignation was for “personal reasons.”

Mr Sheehan lives in the affluent town of Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, with his wife Linda, 45, and teenage daughter Rebecca. He had been in his job for five years, and joined the service in 1975.

Members of the Fire Authority are believed to have been notified of his imminent resignation on Tuesday night but were not given the exact reason.

Councillor Peter Howard, head of West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority, confirmed he had quit.

Frank Sheehan has resigned from his post, for personal reasons

Councillor Peter Howard

He said: “Frank Sheehan has resigned from his post, for personal reasons, as Chief Fire Officer for West Midlands Fire Service with immediate effect.

“The Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Vij Randeniya, will be acting in the role of Chief Fire Officer.

“The Fire Authority has every confidence in the Corporate Board and the staff of West Midlands Fire Service who will continue to serve the communities of the West Midlands.”

Mr Sheehan, who has spent his entire career with the West Midlands service, was appointed in September 20003 when he took over from Chief Fire Officer Ken Knight, who left to become Commissioner of London Fire Brigade.

He said then: “I am thrilled to become Chief Fire Officer of West Midlands Fire Service. With the support of the excellent staff, at all levels across the brigade, I intend to build on the outstanding work that is being done and make further improvements to the service we offer the public.

“The West Midlands is special to me and my workforce and I look forward to meeting the challenge of my new role and helping the Service to progress.” Mr Sheehan was also awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal this year for services to community fire safety.

He had worked his way up through the ranks, becoming Assistant Chief Officer (Community Relations) in 1995, and Deputy Chief in 2001. It is understood that he planned to retire from his £100,000-plus job next September.

Major episodes in his career include the services relocation of its HQ and industrial action by the fire brigades union in 2004 and the closure of Central Fire Station in 2006.

West Midlands Fire Service, which was formed in 1935, has 41 fire stations in nine Command Areas and operates 60 front line fire engines.

There was no answer at Mr Sheehan’s £300,000 home yesterday. A police spokesperson said: “A 55-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday at an address in Sutton Coldfield on suspicion of making indecent images of children.

He has been bailed pending further inquiries.”