The City Settles

BY STEPHANIE LAM
Daily Post Correspondent

Former Palo Alto Fire Chief Geo Blackshire is suing the city for allegedly withholding wages from him for years, according to a lawsuit filed in the Santa Clara County Superior Court.

During his tenure as chief, Blackshire was supposed to have received a 3% wage premium for his Emergency Medical Technician certification, the lawsuit, filed on Jan. 7 states. The premium requirements are outlined in a city compensation plan for EMT certified employees.

Blackshire, who has had his certification since 1997, was paid the premium during his time as Deputy Fire Chief, according to the suit. But in July 2019, when Blackshire was promoted, the city stopped paying the premium.

“That omission persisted for years, through multiple compensation plan cycles and payroll periods, without disclosure or correction,” according to the the lawsuit, filed by attorneys Jamon Hicks and Rebecca Brown.

Blackshire retired on Oct. 31 after nearly three decades in the department. He was one of the highest paid city employees and made $395,370 last year, pay records show.

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