D.C. Councilmember and mayoral candidate Tommy Wells (D) says he is calling for the resignations of the city's deputy mayor for public safety and fire chief.
The announcement comes one day after families of four individuals whose deaths are being blamed on the D.C. Fire Department testified to city council.
In a letter to D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, Wells writes the current administation's response to the death of Medric Mills was "deficient and disappointing," and asked for the resignations of Fire Chief Kenneth Ellerbe and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Paul Quander.
"From burning ambulances, uncertified fire trucks, and no procurement plan to adequately equip our fire and emergency personnel, to a shortage of paramedics, delayed response to emergencies, and poor training and management, this department has enormous and urgent challenges to overcome. Yet the administration has no coherent plan to improve the department’s performance," Wells wrote.
In response, Gray's camp called Wells' comments a political stunt.
"This is the same councilmember who blocked [Ellerbe's] plan for ambulance redeployment. Wells is a hypocrite at best," Gray's spokesperson told News4.
