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Charlotte fire chief receives well wishes ahead of retirement

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Fire Chief Jon Hannan is receiving some well wishes before he officially retires at the end of the month.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management tweeted pictures thanking Hannan for his support over the years.

Hannan was named chief in 2007 and has been with the department for 38 years.

Hannan announced his retirement in June following years of controversy at the department.

He was named chief in 2007 and has been with the department for 38 years.

Channel 9 reported on several employee complaints of harassment, bullying and low morale that were made under his leadership.

Hannan will retire Aug. 31.

He met with City Manager Marcus Jones June 29 before he announced his retirement, sources said.

Eyewitness News reporter Joe Bruno was first to break this major story on Twitter.

Some city leaders and employees told Bruno it's time for a change.

“I think this could be a good, clean break that everyone is looking for,” City Councilman Kenny Smith said.

Hannan's future was in jeopardy because of extremely low morale in the department and his handling of the Crystal Eschert case, sources said.

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A jury awarded Eschert, a former arson investigator, nearly $1.5 million, saying she was fired in retaliation for complaints she made about a city building.

“I have come to realize that what I can do to move the department forward and up has been accomplished,” Hannan said of his decision to retire.

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For years, Councilwoman Claire Fallon has been the fire chief's most vocal critic on the Charlotte City Council.

She said she wishes the announcement happened sooner, but she is glad the department will have fresh leadership.

“I'd like to see the fire department have a real look-see and change their methods, and hopefully with him gone there will be change,” Fallon said.

Morale was low and many firefighters were hesitant to speak publicly.

The one exception was Linda Lockhart.

She spoke out multiple times, even in front of the Charlotte City Council, about morale and conditions within the fire department.

Lockhart was the city's first black female firefighter and said, with Hannan stepping aside, it’s a new day.

“The brotherhood, it won't be as tight, but it will start to get back together like it used to be,” Lockhart said.

In the meantime, the city will name an interim fire chief. Those discussions are ongoing but no decision has been made yet.

The highest-ranking city official who agreed to an on-camera interview about the chief was Mayor pro tem Vi Lyles.

“Look what he's done, and yes, there are bumps in everyone's career,” Lyles said.

A call from Channel 9 to Hannan wasn't returned. His spokesperson later said he isn't doing interviews.

The city rejected a request to talk to Jones.

Mayor Jennifer Roberts also rejected an on-camera interview request.

Roberts did release the following statement:

"I appreciate Chief Hannan's many years of loyal service to the city and wish him the best in the future. After speaking with the city manager I am confident of a smooth transition as the department moves forward. I will continue to work with the manager on making progress toward a more diverse and inclusive workforce at every level of city government."

(Click PLAY for reporter Joe Bruno's report on what's next for the Fire Department's leadership)

TIMELINE:

Channel 9 has investigated complaints and controversies surrounding the Charlotte Fire Department for years.

In 2014, anchor Allison Latos uncovered one firefighter made nearly $100,000 in overtime working on the department's antique firetrucks.

Latos also discovered $2,300 spent on canine training, grooming and boarding for a dog listed as the Fire Department mascot.

In 2014, Eschert told Latos she was fired for raising concerns over building safety.

The city argued she was terminated for controversial Facebook posts.

Eschert sued the city in federal court and, in May, a jury awarded her nearly $1.5 million.

In April 2016, Hannan admitted to leaking a confidential personnel memo about firefighter Marty Puckett, which was something Channel 9 questioned him about.

“No,” Hannan said. “I don't have anything for you tonight.”

Former City Manager Ron Carlee put a letter of reprimand in Hannan's personnel file and placed him on a three-month probationary period.

Last fall, dozens of retired Charlotte firefighters filed a lawsuit. They claimed the city used a calculation that shortchanged them on sick and vacation time they're owed.

In May, Channel 9 received several anonymous letters, which were also sent to city officials, claiming the Charlotte Fire Department treated minorities unfairly.

Lockhart, the first African-American woman to ever work for the Charlotte Fire Department, went before the City Council calling for change. She then told Channel 9 she's faced bullying and harassment for speaking out.

The city of Charlotte said during Hannan's time as chief, the department grew to 42 stations with more than 1,200 firefighters.

The department is also one of only 200 departments in the U.S. to hold Class 1 international accreditation.

City of Charlotte statement:

"After 38 distinguished years of devoted service to the Charlotte Fire Department and the City of Charlotte, Jon Hannan announced his retirement this evening, effective Aug. 31.

Hannan joined the Charlotte Fire Department in 1978 as a dispatcher and was promoted to serve in a variety of roles with increasing responsibility. In 2007, he was named fire chief of the Charlotte Fire Department.

During Hannan’s tenure, the department grew to 42 stations with more than 1,200 firefighters. Despite this growth, average response time is less than five minutes for the approximately 120,000 annual incidents. The department is also only one of 200 departments in the U.S. to hold class 1 international accreditation."

In a memo to his staff, Hannan wrote the following: 

“To All Personnel: 

It has been a pleasure and honor to be part of this great fire department.  I am continuously amazed by what you can accomplish, every division in this organization is the best at what it does.  I could go on forever but that has never been my way.  I have come to realize that what I can do to move the department forward and up has been accomplished.  It is time for me to pass it on and I will be retiring effective August 31 of this year.

Continue to do your duty and make a difference wherever you can, always lean forward!"