Oakridge, Ore. – A federal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court in Eugene alleges that Oakridge Fire & EMS retaliated against former part‑time firefighter and paramedic Joseph Millam after he reported possible misuse of public funds and safety deficiencies within the department.
Background and allegations
Millam, a Creswell resident, began working part‑time for Oakridge Fire & EMS in April 2023 through the staffing agency PeopleReady Inc. In October 2023, he provided information to Oakridge Police about a possible payment of public funds to Chief Scott Hollett’s wife for ambulance shifts she allegedly did not perform. The lawsuit does not detail the outcome of any police investigation, and an attorney for Millam, Randy Harvey, said, “To the best of our knowledge and information no investigation was conducted.”
From the fall of 2023 through May 2024, Millam took on an expanded role as a shift leader, working a schedule of 48 hours on‑duty followed by 96 hours off‑duty. During that time he raised several concerns with Chief Hollett and City Administrator James Cleavenger, including:
- Ambulance transports being conducted without appropriately trained or certified personnel.
- Use of respiratory equipment that had not been tested, as well as concerns about apparatus testing, condition, and incomplete narcotics logs.
Harvey asserted that “nothing was done and the department continued to use improper equipment and procedures.” The Oregon Health Authority confirmed that Oakridge holds a valid ambulance service license through June of next year.
Retaliation claims
Millam also complained about his own role and compensation, telling Chief Hollett that he could not continue as a shift leader without a pay adjustment. After these discussions, Millam was removed from the scheduling system in June 2024 and told he could not sign up for part‑time work until he spoke directly with Hollett. He complied, resumed work, and later met with Mayor Bryan Cutchen to discuss his concerns.
Following the mayoral meeting, Hollett emailed Millam stating, “I will no longer be using you as a PeopleReady part‑time staff,” without citing performance or attendance issues. Hollett invited Millam to apply for an open full‑time firefighter/paramedic position. Millam applied, reportedly outscoring the eventual hire on several testing measures, but the city selected the other candidate based on a higher score in the Chief’s interview and a subjective “Suitability/Veracity” component.
The lawsuit alleges that the city’s subjective evaluation penalized Millam for his protected speech—specifically, his reporting to police and his meeting with the mayor. Millam was terminated from his PeopleReady assignment in August 2024 and passed over for the full‑time role in October 2024, which he claims constitute two distinct adverse decisions motivated by his whistle‑blowing.
Legal claims and response
Millam is seeking unspecified damages, asserting that he was the target of retaliation and discrimination for good‑faith reporting of dangerous conduct and alleged misuse of public funds. The complaint names City Administrator James Cleavenger, Chief Scott Hollett and the city itself as defendants. City officials have not responded to requests for comment.
While the lawsuit is pending, the allegations raise important questions about transparency, public‑safety standards and the treatment of employees who raise legitimate concerns. Oakridge residents and local officials will be watching closely as the case proceeds.
Original reporting: Homepage – Lookout Eugene-Springfield — read the source article.
