Sarnia Fire Chief Pat Cayen lost his job Thursday.

The city, in a statement released at noon Friday, announced it had terminated Cayen’s employment.

“Pending charges have compromised his ability to carry out his duties as chief of Sarnia Fire Rescue Service,” officials said in the release.

Cayen, 54, was charged in late 2012 with 28 counts of sexual assault, including 11 counts of sexual interference and four counts of invitation of touching for a sexual purpose.

Sarnia police have said the charges involve two alleged victims who were under the age of 16 at the time.

City manager Lloyd Fennell said the decision to fire Cayen was made after “broad consultations” and legal advice.

“I undertook a comprehensive overview of the impact and determined that — certainly, in the best interests of the corporation, the department, peers, council — that (Cayen’s) ability to lead the department under these circumstances was compromised, and that this was the course of action that needed to be taken,” Fennell said.

The city’s two deputy fire chiefs will continue operating the department for now, he said.

“We’ll look at the alternatives going forward, in terms of filling the role of fire chief.”

Advertising the post, interviewing candidates and hiring a chief could take about a month, he said.

Cayen officially became Sarnia’s fire chief in October 2005 and began working for the city as deputy chief in 2003.

A Sudbury native, Cayen started out as a firefighter in 1980 in Rossland, B.C. He also worked in the Yukon and spent four years as fire chief in Malahide Township, near Aylmer, Ont., before arriving in Sarnia.

Following a brief court appearance Dec. 18, Cayen’s lawyer, Phillip Millar, said his client was eager to clear his name.

Cayen is due back in court Jan. 22.

paul.morden@sunmedia.ca

