www.abc24.com - WPTY Memphis

June 02, 2004
Breaking News:
New Job for Talford

Eyewitness News has learned that a former Deputy Fire Chief fired for sending racially insensitive e-mails has been named Director of Emergency Management in Memphis and Shelby County. The man is Claude Talford. Eyewitness News spoke with Talford Wednesday night and he confirmed for us that he would be starting the EMA Director's job on Thursday. In January, Talford was fired from the Memphis Fire Department after Eyewitness News uncovered racially insensitive e-mails Talford wrote. Those emails were related to the on-going search for a new Memphis Fire Chief, and Talford's opposition to Mayor Willie Herenton's choice, Jerry Crawford. Crawford is now the new Fire Chief in Collierville. Eyewitness News will have much more on Claude Talford's new job Thursday night.

June 02, 2004
Former Memphis Fire Leader Who Was Fired Is Re-Hired!

Just days after a former Memphis City Fire Department administrator drops a law against the city, Mayor Willie Herenton appointed him director of the Emergency Management Agency.

     Claude Talford was at the center of the fight for a new fire director in January. Talford, the former deputy fire director, was passed over by the mayor. That's when Talford filed a lawsuit against the city and Mayor Herenton. Friday, May 28, Talford dropped the lawsuit. Two business days later, he was appointed Director of the Shelby County EMA.

     The EMA Director is in charge of planning and preparing for emergency operations. That includes terrorism response plans, rescue operations and tornado sirens. The Memphis city attorney says while Talford was not the Mayor's choice for Memphis City Fire Director, he is qualified to lead the EMA.