CEDAR FALLS — The lone remaining member of the Cedar Falls firefighters union is taking the city to court alleging city officials violated his rights when they adopted the public safety officer model in 2020.
In a suit filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids, Scott Dix alleges the city violated his First Amendment right to free speech because he was let go after voicing criticisms of the model, which uses cross-trained police officers and firefighters.
The suit also alleges he was targeted for taking part in union activities.
Dix is asking the court to rescind his discharge from the city and award damages for compensation and emotional distress as well and punitive damages.
Scott Dix, left, and Jeff Olson
The suit names as defendants former public safety director Jeff Olson, City Administrator Ron Gaines and City Council members Susan DeBuhr, Frank Darrah, Mark Miller, Darrell Kruse and Nick Taiber.
Dix, a 25-year firefighting veteran, and other fire union officials were vocally critical of the city’s decision to adopt the cross-training model because of safety concerns. The city had been gradually adopting portions of the model for years.
People are also reading…
Then the firefighter job classification was eliminated weeks after a 5-2 City Council vote to fully implement the public safety model in February 2020.
The remaining firefighters were placed on administrative leave. The city resisted a union request for bargaining following the council vote.
One firefighter joined the public safety officer program and the rest accepted a severance package, with the exception of Dix, who was laid off in June 2020.
Police officers who weren’t cross trained and police and fire supervisors who weren’t cross trained were allowed to remain, according to court records.
The suit comes after a state court judge in 2021 ordered the city to rewrite job qualifications for public safety supervisors following a challenge by Dix and the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1366, and after an administrative law judge’s finding that city officials had retaliated against the union in the public safety switch.
Photos: College Hill Arts Festival returns to UNI
CHAF 1

A man observes the work of Tracy Sadlo at her fine art photography booth at he 42nd College Hill Arts Festival in Cedar Falls on Saturday.
CHAF 2

Cindy Bengston, left, and Connie Steffen, both of Waterloo, look at the glass pieces on display at Jon Offutt’s boot at the 42nd College Hill Arts Festival in Cedar Falls on Saturday.
CHAF 3

Jonas Christman of Cedar Falls, 9, looks at the mixed media pieces on display at Sean and Trang Nguyen Cusick’s booth at the 42nd College Hill Arts Festival in Cedar Falls on Saturday.
CHAF 4

Albert Tanko of North Branch, Minn. shows Melanie Middleton of North Carolina one of his sun-catchers at his Creative Nutworks booth at the 42nd College Hill Arts Festival in Cedar Falls on Saturday.
CHAF 5

A visitor holds one of Albert Tanko’s sun-catchers up in the sunlight to see through the stained glass in one of his pieces at his Creative Nutworks booth at the 42nd College Hill Arts Festival in Cedar Falls on Saturday.
CHAF 6
Visitors at the 42nd College Hill Arts Festival in Cedar Falls on Saturday.
CHAF 7
Visitors browse the artwork at David Barthel’s photography booth at the 42nd College Hill Arts Festival in Cedar Falls on Saturday.
CHAF 8
Visitors at the 42nd College Hill Arts Festival in Cedar Falls on Saturday.
CHAF 9
Children make their own art at the Hearst Center for the Arts’ activity center at the 42nd College Hill Arts Festival in Cedar Falls on Saturday.