By Logan Andrew | FreeWire Magazine
The atmosphere in the Bucyrus City Council chambers on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, was anything but routine. What began as a standard legislative session rapidly evolved into a historic confrontation as the members of IAFF Local 1120 stood in unison to issue a formal vote of no confidence in Fire Chief Chad Schwemley. While the move is technically symbolic, it underscores a profound breakdown in trust between the department’s frontline personnel and the city’s administrative and legislative leadership. At the center of the dispute is a fundamental disagreement over whether the fire department is a fiscally bloated operation or a dangerously under-resourced essential service.
Councilman Robert Taylor, Chair of the Health & Safety Committee, has spearheaded a campaign for fiscal austerity, fueled largely by a $570,000 overtime payout in 2024. “I was voted in for this particular issue—to reduce government spending,” Taylor stated during the meeting. He pointed to a high volume of sick time, totaling 1,500 hours, as a primary red flag in his budget evaluation. To bolster his point, Taylor cited data from a recent 8-hour window where staffing was reduced to five. During that period, the department handled only three calls—one of which was a “lift assist”—leading Taylor to argue that the city can maintain safety standards with fewer boots on the ground during specific periods.
In a recent follow-up with FreeWire, Taylor clarified the city’s intent behind these cuts. “The cuts made will save about 100,000 dollars,” Taylor noted. “I’m expecting we will operate like this, see where we stand in a few months in regards to revenue and compare that to risk incurred and see what we look like.” Taylor also noted that while he previously mentioned a potential audit of the “water” department, he intended to refer to the police department, reinforcing his stance that all city departments will be scrutinized for potential savings.
However, IAFF Local 1120 President Jeremy Gillam was quick to counter that the $570,000 overtime bill isn’t a choice, but a byproduct of the city’s refusal to hire six additional full-time firefighters—a move the union claims would be budget-neutral by eliminating the need for overtime shifts entirely. Gillam also pushed back on the characterization of the department’s sick time, which Taylor suggested equated to “10 hours per day” of missed work. Gillam clarified that the 1,500-hour figure averages out to approximately four hours per day across the entire department and was heavily skewed by at least one member sidelined with a significant injury requiring extensive rehabilitation. This highlights a reality often lost when public safety is viewed strictly through a spreadsheet: when you work a small staff 3,000 to 3,500 hours annually, injuries and burnout become statistical certainties.
The tension turned personal when Taylor characterized firefighter health and fitness as a “personal responsibility,” telling the assembled firefighters to “look in the mirror” regarding their physical readiness. The union has pushed back hard on this, framing wellness as a shared responsibility between the employer and the employee. Gillam argues that individual accountability cannot be separated from the working conditions firefighters face, particularly the high-stress, sleep-deprived environment created by the city’s current staffing model.
The city administration, however, has circled the wagons around its leadership. Bucyrus City Law Director Brandon Gobrecht issued a firm defense of the Chief, stating, “We, as the City of Bucyrus, stand behind Chief Chad Schwemley one hundred percent. He did what was asked of him in the most equitable way possible, and was treated very poorly for doing so.” Gobrecht expressed deep disappointment in the union’s public approach, labeling the no-confidence vote a “dramatic” display and “shenanigans” that contribute to unnecessary drama in the city. “We have been working very hard to stamp out the drama,” Gobrecht added, while acknowledging the “hard spot” the administration has placed Chief Schwemley in.
The conflict has since moved beyond the public forum and into a formal legal arena. Gobrecht confirmed that the fire department has filed an official grievance on the matter, a move that Jeremy Gillam says is part of the union’s commitment to advocate for its members through all “appropriate and lawful channels.”
Beyond the numbers and the legal filings, the vote of no confidence specifically highlighted a lack of updated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs). The union claims that under Chief Schwemley’s leadership, the department lacks the written policies necessary for safe and consistent emergency response. “In an environment where conditions can change rapidly, the absence of current SOPs and SOGs creates unnecessary risk,” Gillam noted.
As of Monday morning, March 30, Chief Schwemley has not responded to a request for comment. FreeWire reached out to the Chief who directed all official inquiries to Law Director Gobrecht.
While the fire department is currently in the crosshairs, the reach of these austerity audits is likely to expand. Taylor indicated to FreeWire that the Police and Water departments will be the next areas of focus for the Health & Safety Committee, though he acknowledged he has not yet had a formal conversation with Service Chair Chris Mauritz regarding a coordinated strategy. For now, the resolution of no confidence returns to the Health & Safety Committee—chaired by Taylor himself. The city maintains it is seeking fiscal responsibility and stability, while the union maintains it is fighting for basic operational safety. For the citizens of Bucyrus, the question remains whether the city is cutting fat, or if it has started cutting into the muscle of public safety.
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So what if someone dies in a fire or car wreck where fire department needs more than 5 people and a lift assist all at one time who is responsible for the one who doesn’t have enough people to help in the situation. Who does family sue for the loss the city