I-Team: Controversial recording in Holyoke

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - There's controversy in Holyoke involving a video recording and a firefighter in Holyoke.

The 22News I-Team was given the video that resulted in Holyoke's Fire Chief putting a letter of reprimand in Timothy Leary's personnel file.

Leary, seen in the video, is the President of the Firefighters Union.

“I don't even care if you tell him this. That's what he is, If you got an issue, you've got a problem, talk to me,” Leary can be heard saying.

Leary was disciplined for using racially offensive words to describe Holyoke City Councilor, Anthony Soto.

“He's a (expletive) lying, scumbag, (expletive). That's what he is. I don't even care if you tell him this,” Leary said.

Soto told the I-Team, he's seen the recording.

“When I saw the tape, just extremely disappointed, very very disappointed,” Soto said. “It's totally offensive, insensitive. ”

Leary's attorney, Terence Coles, told the 22News I-Team, his client shouldn't have been disciplined because he thinks it's an illegal recording.

“He was there just to have a private conversation, not for any other purpose,” Coles said.

Leary is talking to Hampshire Towing owner, Bill Johnson in the recording.

He says he doesn't know how it got out, but says anyone who walks through his doors should expect to be recorded.

Johnson says it's important they have cameras rolling at all times for their own protection. Typically people aren't happy when they have their cars towed and  they like to have their encounters documented.

“The video was not taken to be publicly put out there, I video with audio as a normal course of business,” Johnson said. “but I did not release the video, one of my employees must have showed it to somebody and that's how it got released.”

Coles wants a judge to hear the case.

Soto wants the city to respond further.

“I think that we really need to look at more sensitivity training throughout the city. To departments, city employees, we really need to start putting more attention to this,” Soto added.

The city law department and the fire chief weren't willing to comment on this story.

Coles filed a grievance; the case has been submitted for arbitration.