Rehired SLO firefighter agrees to pay cut

June 7, 2013

Embattled San Luis Obispo firefighter John Ryan Mason, whom Fire Chief Charlie Hines rehired this week, has agreed to take a pay cut of more than $36,000 and a five-year probationary period. [Tribune]

Following a bar bathroom brawl, Mason faced charges of felony assault with great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury. But, Mason’s trial concluded with a hung jury leaning eight to four in his favor, and the District Attorney’s Office chose not to retry the case.

Mason, who has worked for the fire department for more than a decade before Hines fired him last November, will return to his job as an entry-level firefighter. Mason’s annual pay will drop from $92,140 to $56,160.

Mason also agreed to return to work on a five-year probation period during which Hines can fire him again for any conduct similar to the bar bathroom brawl.

The agreement between Mason and the city ends the possibility of Mason filing an appeal to get his job back. Had Mason won an appeal, he could have also sought back pay from the city.

The agreement also states that it cannot be used as an admission in a future civil or criminal case against him

While Councilman Dan Carpenter issued a statement Thursday reprimanding the decision to rehire Mason, Mayor Jan Marx said she is satisfied with the agreement.

“I think that the agreement has built in sufficient safeguards so that the public and the city is protected,” Marx said. “He can be terminated without rights to appeal with any misstep. It is now up to him prove himself. It is not clear he will be able to make it, but I for one hope he is able to do so.”