Deputy Fire Chief Steps Down, Seeks to Retire

Mayor Ted Bettencourt confirmed Thursday evening that Deputy Chief Eric Harrison has submitted a request to retire from the Peabody Fire Department, following a recent incident with another employee.

Bettencourt said a disciplinary hearing was scheduled for June 7, but was suspended after Harrison, a 24-year veteran, notified city officials he intended to retire from the department. That hearing was then canceled altogether upon Harrison submitting his paperwork to the city’s retirement board a couple weeks later.

Bettencourt said the board, which meets monthly, will take up the application at a future meeting. He declined to comment on the incident that led to the hearing, saying that city attorneys, Harrison’s attorney and the other employee’s attorney were still engaged in talks.

For that reason, Bettencourt said, he is unsure if any legal action will be taken.

Harrison was promoted to Deputy Chief last summer to fill the vacancy from Deputy Chief Paul Lynch’s retirement. Bettencourt said no one has been appointed, permanently or temporarily, to replace Harrison; he’s waiting until the retirement issue is settled.

Harrison has been off-duty for two months, Bettencourt said, although that was initially due to an injury.

Shortly after his promotion last year, Harrison was targeted by Lynch in a suit filed with the Mass. Commission Against Discrimination for alleged harassment, insubordination and personal cruelty over a period of at least several months before Lynch's retirement.

Harrison was named a full-time permanent firefighter in 1989 and promoted to lieutenant in 1997. In 1999 he was granted a provisional appointment to captain and then permanently promoted to that rank in 2001. He was sworn in as a deputy chief last June.

Harrison also received a Medal of Valor in December presented by Gov. Deval Patrick and state Fire Marshal Stephen Coan at the annual Firefighter of the Year Awards. Without regard for his own safety, he was the one who found and pulled fallen firefighter James Rice from the burning building at 5 Hancock St. on Dec. 23, 2011.