Crime & Safety

Disciplinary Hearing Against Waukesha Fire Chief Begins Thursday

City leaders are attempting to oust Fire Chief Jesse Alba.

Waukesha Fire Chief Jesse Alba has been on paid administrative leave after he was accused of violating several city policies, including sexual harassment.


Alba, who was promoted to fire chief in May, has been fighting the allegations that came to light soon after he began his duties as fire chief. Mayor Jeff Scrima and City Administrator Ed Henschel are seeking his dismissal from the Waukesha Fire Department, but that decision is ultimately up to the independent Police and Fire Commission.

The PFC is holding a disciplinary hearing against Alba starting at 9 a.m. Thursday at City Hall. The PFC is expected to convene in closed session from  to further discuss the issues brought up during the hearing.

The complaint filed against the fire chief by Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima alleges that the fire chief violated several policies in the city, including the anti-harassment policy, the core values statement, administrative statement and the Waukesha Fire Department’s rules of conduct.

Alba is accused of telling a female subordinate that he was in love with her, asking her to resign because he couldn’t focus on his job or the fire chief promotion, according to a complaint filed against Alba. If she didn’t leave, the complaint states, Alba threatened her job if he were to be named fire chief.

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However, Alba's attorney Victor Plantinga said in a news release that Alba had a consensual sexual relationship with the subordinate.

"This relationship never occurred on duty," Platinga said. "This relationship also ended before the process for hiring a chief took place. While Chief Alba regrets the decision he made in his personal life, it is unfortunate that this decision must impact Chief Alba professionally. We look forward to presenting this evidence and question the credibility of witnesses whom the city is relying on to bring these charges."

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The woman, who the complaint says told a co-worker she was happily married and was not interested in Alba, voluntarily resigned on June 1, Henschel said in July.


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