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Show Speed says allegations inappropriate, old news V WEST BOUNTIFUL South Davis Fire District Chief John Speed thinks recent news reports about his past dealings with the law are "old news." Davis County fire district officials offi-cials agreed. South Davis Fire District Board Chairman, David H. O Wright Jr., Woods Cross mayor, laid they knew of Speed's past when he was hired. "We had a full investigation done before Speed was hired. These problems are old problems," said Wnght. The "problems" involved a charge of felony assault against Speed in an incident in Aurora, Colo. 12 years ago. Speed reportedly reported-ly shot at two Aspen police officers while he was drunk. Speed pleaded guilty to possession posses-sion of a firearm while under the influence in-fluence of alcohol, and the felony SEE SPEED ON A-4 Speed CONTINUED FROM A-l and a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment were dropped according to reports in the Rocky Mountain News. " The report explained that Speed was attending a Colorado Municipal League convention at ' nearby Snowmass when the incident inci-dent occurred in 1980. Officers said Speed had fired his .32 caliber revolver into the steering wheel. - They said Speed fired a second shot as they approached his car. Speed, who was Aurora fire chief at the time, was suspended for three weeks without pay and served a 10- - day jail sentence. He also underwent alcohol counseling. Speed resigned as Aurora fire chief in 1991. A Rocky Mountain . News story said he resigned after three sexual-harassment charges were brought against his department. depart-ment. The report said Speed had "tried but failed to change sexist attitudes at-titudes in his beleaguered department." depart-ment." Responding to the reports, Speed said his resignation in Aurora had nothing to do with charges being filed against his department. He said the men involved had been reprimanded rep-rimanded and one had been fired. , "I resigned because the city manager and I disagreed on policies. He asked me to reorganize my department and I did, but he still thought it was too top heavy. I didn't agree and I resigned," said Speed. Of the other charges Speed said they were an isolated incident. "The city didn't see fit to terminate me. I've had no problems since then." Wright said he doesn't believe this news will affect Speed's ability to serve. "I think our people are bigger than that," he said. |