The Paducah City Commission has voted unanimously to terminate Captain Nathan Torian from the Paducah Fire Department following a nine-hour disciplinary hearing. Captain Torian, a 22-year veteran of the department, also serves as president of IAFF Local 168, a position he has held since 2017.

According to reporting by WKMS, Torian faced nine separate disciplinary charges brought by the city. The commission found him guilty on six of the nine charges and ordered his termination effective immediately.

Captain Torian and his attorneys argued the charges were pretextual and that his firing was motivated by retaliation for his union leadership and advocacy. “I’ve been provoked. I’ve been treated awful. I’m being retaliated against,” Torian said during the hearing. “Those people wearing that uniform are disgracing this city. I don’t disgrace the city, and I never would.”

The city’s attorney, by contrast, maintained that Captain Torian’s conduct violated multiple departmental rules and reflected a pattern of insubordination and unprofessional behavior.

The charges stemmed from four primary incidents earlier this year.

One incident involved a June water-leak response at the Jackson House apartment complex, during which Captain Torian referred to a newly promoted officer by her previous title. Battalion Chief April Tinsman, who had been promoted from deputy fire marshal months earlier, was identified by Captain Torian over the radio using her old rank. The city argued the misranking was intentional and disrespectful. Captain Torian denied any intent to offend, testifying that he “would not blatantly disrespect” her. The commission ultimately found him guilty of exhibiting “rudeness and impoliteness,” but not of disrespect or insubordination.

Another charge concerned a voicemail Captain Torian left for Kentucky Supreme Court Justice Shea Nickell. The call related to a pending lawsuit filed by Local 168 against the city over a residency requirement mandating firefighters live within 45 minutes of Fire Station 4. Shortly after the state’s high court heard oral arguments in the case, Captain Torian called Justice Nickell’s office and left a message asking when the union might expect a decision. The city characterized the call as an improper ex parte communication and “conduct unbecoming” a city employee. Captain Torian’s attorney countered that the message was ethically permissible and not an attempt to influence the case. The commission found Captain Torian guilty of “disgracing the City of Paducah and the Paducah Fire Department by attempting to engage in inappropriate and unethical ex parte communications.”

A third incident arose from a June meeting involving a firefighter complaint against the fire chief. Torian and two other union officers sought to accompany the firefighter to the meeting, but City Attorney Stacey Blankenship and Human Resources Director Wilcox advised them that union representation was not permitted because the firefighter was a witness, not the subject of an investigation. After some back-and-forth, the union leaders left and later filed a grievance. Only Captain Torian was disciplined. The commission found him guilty of “impoliteness and rudeness” toward the HR director.

The fourth set of charges related to Captain Torian’s attempt to attend an Area Maritime Security Committee meeting in August without approval. Deputy Chief David Denton testified that Torian had been instructed not to attend. Captain Torian contended he had previously been encouraged to stay informed about the committee’s activities due to his water-rescue responsibilities. The commission found him guilty of insubordination and engaging in a dispute with Chief Denton over the matter but cleared him of “acting rudely” because the meeting had not yet begun when the call occurred.

Captain Torian’s attorney, Peter Jannace, argued during closing statements that the case was about retaliation for union activity. “If you think that this is motivated by retaliation—filing a lawsuit and his other union advocacy—then that is not only insufficient grounds to terminate Nathan’s employment, it is also unlawful,” Jannace said.

Following deliberations, the city commission voted unanimously to sustain six of the nine charges and terminate Captain Torian’s employment. Three charges were dismissed. The decision took effect immediately.

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