SAN DIEGO (AP) — A San Diego firefighter is challenging discipline he received after getting drunk at a department-sponsored training event, arguing that there is no city rule against it.
Kyle Kutzke had a 72-hour suspension reduced to 60 hours after and was reimbursed about $300. He lost a later court case seeking lost wages and opportunities totaling as much as $34,000.
He remains employed with the department.
Kutzke argues that because the training event in November 2012 took place when firefighters were off-duty, there was no rule against being intoxicated.
City officials say that Kutzke is usually an exemplary firefighter, but that he became the ringleader of “frat party type shenanigans” at the training.