Former Columbia Fire Chief Cobb Can Contest His Termination

Former Columbia Fire Chief Ty Cobb is entitled to contest his termination before the city’s Civil Service Board, according to a court ruling issued last week.

Judge David Allen issued his ruling August 2nd, stating “…the municipal code specifically and unambiguously states that the fire chief is entitled to a civil service hearing upon termination.”

Allen’s ruling also stated that Cobb, who joined the department in 2000 before becoming chief in 2017, had never received any notice that his civil service status had changed.

Columbia’s municipal code requires the appointment of a Director of Public Safety, who is to act as a supervisor for the fire chief and police chief. However, according to the ruling, City Manager Tony Massey testified that there had never been such an appointment. Allen’s ruling stated that in effect, Massey himself served in that capacity.

Cobb was terminated as chief of Columbia Fire & Rescue on March 12th. In the letter of termination, Massey stated allegations that included “a message falsely accusing the chief of police of being involved in an attempted break-in at the apartment of the person who sent the text” and “a message offering to pay for favorable news stories which would benefit your interest.”

Cobb officially requested a civil service hearing by email on March 15th. He served a 30-day suspension in late October 2023 and most of November. At the time, a memorandum from Massey to Cobb cited “insubordination” and added that Cobb would be on probation for a period of one year after the suspension.

The suspension was announced shortly after Cobb requested that the City of Columbia launch an internal investigation into the city’s response to the May 3rd, 2023 Central High School shooting hoax. In that request, Cobb cited concern for the safety of his employees.

Whether the city will appeal the ruling was not immediately known.