Ex-Ladue Fire Chief Still Under Investigation
Eric Hinson departed Ladue Friday after serving less than one year as chief.
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Eric Hinson, as of last Friday is out as fire chief for the City of Ladue. Hinson announced his retirement at age 43 recently. He is under investigation for missing funds from the St. Clair, Missouri Fire Department.
Hinson made questionable purchases from 1997 to 2011 and now some $200,000 is unaccounted for. He is being represented by high profile attorney Catherine Hannaway, a major figure in the Missouri Republican party.
Jeff Johnson has stepped in as acting fire chief while the city searches for a permanent replacement.
Hinson joined the St. Clair department in 1987. In 1993, while holding a $25,000 a year part time job he joined the Ladue force.
In July of 2011, he was appointed chief of the fire department in Ladue, replacing the retiring Ted Jury who moved over to take the reins in Brentwood.
Hinson told Ladue officials he was going to retire and his last day on the job was Friday. The Hinson family has been involved with fire fighting in St. Clair for as long as anyone can remember.
flyoverland
5:44 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
What kind of a system lets able bodied people retire at 43?
CreveCoeurDad
11:40 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
For once I wholeheartedly agree with flyoverland. Firefighters injured in the line of duty deserve our full support with disability pay, and perhaps the physical wear and tear of duty might allow for retirement after 30 years of service at age 55, but 43? That has to stop.
James Baer
4:57 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
I don't know of any evidence that Chief Hinson has gotten a pension from Ladue. The fact of the matter is that he may just have "retired" to escape from his duties? I will ask.
flyoverland
9:11 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
If that is the case, I believe the word he should have used was "resigned."
James Baer
9:35 am on Saturday, September 15, 2012
Right.
Laduzzi
7:54 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
did either of you read the article?!? His resignation/retirement from Ladue was a voluntary decision. He didn't leave because he was injured. It makes me roll on the floor laughing that everytime the words pension and firefighter are put together it is assumed there is some kind of nefarious activity going on. Chief Hinson was an employee of the city and had earned pension benefits as laid out in the city's uniformed pension. He's not going to receive any benefits that he didn't earn through his years of service. Get a grip
James Baer
8:57 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
Yes that would be correct. If the chief earned pension benefits at any age under the prescribed plan, then he is entitled to those benefits. Case closed.
flyoverland
10:24 am on Sunday, September 16, 2012
The point was not about him. It was about a system that would provide a pension at 43, if that was what happened. The article was not specific on that matter. If he has to wait to access the pension, then it's no big deal, as Baer says. If he can retire and start drawing benefits at 43, then one has to question that system as excessive. Obviously, America has finally awakened to learn that government employees have incrementally carved a pretty sweet deal for themselves. Look at the Chicago teachers who make double the average salary in Chicago and work far less hours. In may of these cases, we simply cannot afford these kinds of emoluments anymore. My comments addressed the system, not him.
ontheair
1:48 pm on Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Hinson cannot access his pension until he is 55 years old.