Firefighter-chief matter ends

YOUNGSTOWN — The result is no harm, no foul for whatever happened between a firefighter and Fire Chief John J. O’Neill Jr. in an alleged bar confrontation.

City Prosecutor Jay Macejko said the firefighter, Fred Beehler, told the police department’s Internal Affairs Division that he is not interested in pursuing the matter. Without Beehler’s full cooperation, the investigation cannot proceed, Macejko said Thursday.

Mayor Jay Williams said Thursday he doesn’t have all the details but once he has all the facts will take appropriate action, if necessary.

Beehler, through the fire chief’s secretary, said he would not comment.

O’Neill could not be reached.

Beehler had told police a confrontation with O’Neill over safety concerns took place around 6:15 p.m. last Saturday, while they were at Big’s Sports Bar on Mahoning Avenue on the West Side.

Beehler said he was poked in the chest two or three times and then backhanded in the face by O’Neill, reports show.

Beehler told police he had his wife pick him up when the chief wanted to take the fight outside. The firefighter called police from his home.

The report lists his injury as minor; police took three photos of his face.