City Cast Denver logo
Advertisement image
March 24, 2025

Why Denver Firefighters Are So Mad at Their Chief and The Mayor

City Cast Denver

Why Denver Firefighters Are So Mad at Their Chief and The Mayor

00:00:00
View all City Cast Denver episodes

An overwhelming 64% of Denver’s firefighters voted last month that they have “no confidence” in their fire chief, Desmond Fulton. But Mayor Mike Johnston holds the power to hire and fire the chief, and he brushed off the firefighters’ vote. So as the fire union prepares for another round of collective bargaining with the city, producer Paul Karolyi is sitting down with CBS investigative reporter Brian Maass to break down where the bad blood between the Fire Dept. and the mayor started, dig into some fresh data on what the Fire Dept. actually does, and talk about where the complicated internal politics of the department will go from here. 


Do you or someone you know have experience working at the Denver Fire Department? We would love to talk to them about the diversity question and everything else. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and we will reach out: 720-500-5418


For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.


Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm


Learn more about the sponsors of this March 24th episode:


Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Denver

Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
October 9

A Cheesy New Ethics Complaint at DIA, CoCo Vote Veers Off Course, and Denver's Best PSL

It might not feel like it, but we are, actually, in the fall season! Contributor Michelle Jackson joins producer Olivia Jewell Love to ch...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
October 8

How This Election Could Change All Other Elections. Plus, ‘Love is Blind’: Where Are They Now?

It's election season, and those blue books are beefy this year! We’re going one by one through some of the thorniest ballot measures all...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
October 7

What Would You Name Dick’s Sporting Goods Park? Plus, Casa Bonita’s Wishing Well and Local Comedy Drama

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park may not be long for this world – well, the name anyway. For the first time in the Colorado Rapids soccer stadi...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
October 6

Harsher Fentanyl Penalties, Voter ID Requirements, and More of the Conservative Agenda on Colorado Ballots

The conservative nonprofit Advance Colorado brought a whopping eight initiatives to the ballot this year – that’s more than half of the 1...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
October 5

The DPS Board’s Half-Decade of Drama, Meet Your Soulmate, and Will a Chatbot Replace Denver's 311 Operators?

Denver Public Schools board member DJ Torres resigned last week, his reasoning being “too much of my time and energy have been consumed b...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
October 4

‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast Denver

When Denver looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City d...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
October 2

Privatizing the Trash, Drones Delivering Pasta, and How to PorchFest

Denverites already pay for trash pick-up, but what if that money went to a private company instead of the city? The city’s waste services...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
October 1

Will Denver Ever Say Yes to the Duplex? Plus, the Ethics Investigation Costing the City $800,000

A proposal to make sweeping changes to the zoning code was sent back to the drawing board by city council – signalling the end of a push...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
September 30

Your Guide to October 2026 in Denver

Fall is here — and we’re ready for the sweater weather, cozy vibes, and spiced everything! From finding the right craft meetup to enjoyin...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art
September 29

Glendale’s Failed Nightlife Promises, New Live Music Venue in Cap Hill, and Duck Liver on the Ballot

The historically counter-cultural strip of 13th Avenue in Capitol Hill will be home to a concert venue once again! After all the drama an...

City Cast Denver podcast episode art