Fire Rescue's top instructor quits amid inquiry: Investigators are looking at the possibility that he used county property for personal profit.

Byline: Henry Pierson Curtis

May 11--Orange County Fire Rescue's top instructor has resigned amid an investigation into whether he improperly profited from his job.

Division Chief William M. Godfrey claims he was a victim of office politics and a dispute about ownership of programs he created, according to a letter released Wednesday by County Mayor Rich Crotty's office.

"I cannot remember when that mutual trust first began eroding, but recent events have convinced me it is now damaged beyond repair," Godfrey wrote fire Chief Carl L. Plaugher on April 21. None of the accusations against Godfrey has been disclosed since the county suspended him in late March from his $84,000-a-year job. But his letter of resignation and scant public records make clear that county investigators are looking at the possibility that he used county property for personal profit. One of the issues appears to be a firefighting-instruction program being sold by a private company, CommandSim, which offers training sessions starting at $27,950. It is being marketed using video, radio transmissions and photographs of Orange County Fire Rescue employees.

County officials say the company never was given permission to feature county firefighters in its Internet marketing. The investigation of Godfrey's work became public when Plaugher suspended him for a "possible conflict of interest to include misuse of county resources." In his resignation letter, Godfrey stated he has never worked for CommandSim in any capacity. And he stated that a lawyer specializing in intellectual property -- the ownership of ideas and work products -- advised him that he has "every legal and procedural right to what I have done."

On Wednesday, CommandSim's Web site carried a link to a consulting firm, FutureFD.com, that state corporation records show is owned by Godfrey. CommandSim previously declined to comment on its relationship with Godfrey. Benefiting from publicly funded work has been a hot issue in county government since Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary and two aides started a nonprofit business to market counter-terrorism software created with public funds. Controversy prompted the sheriff to separate himself from the venture last summer. Unlike many public agencies and private corporations, the Sheriff's Office does not claim ownership of its employees' on-duty work products. County Comptroller Martha Haynie recommended that Beary adopt such a policy to repay taxpayers' investment in those products. It was not clear Wednesday if county firefighters can claim ownership to products they create on duty.

Henry Pierson Curtis can be reached at hcurtis@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5257.

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