A deal is reached at City Hall putting four fire fighters back in Public Education. The deal includes Tulsa Fire Marshal Tom Hufford, known to school children as 'Huffy The Clown'. As part of the city's budget woes, Hufford and the others were resign to field duty as fire fighters.
The IAFF Local 176 Union took the matter to court. As a result, City management has decided to avoid litigation and reinstate four firefighters to special assignments within the public education unit of the TFD Administrative Division.
By moving the public education officers to the field and shifting personnel in other areas, the Fire Department expected to save $327,000, primarily in overtime cost recovery. The positions were not to be abolished, but would have been filled by light duty firefighters.