A groundswell of public support has emerged for Glens Falls Fire Lieutenant Doug Holl, who was denied full retirement benefits after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. The diagnosis forced an abrupt end to his firefighting career just shy of the 20-year mark., WNYT reports
Holl, who had less than two years left to qualify for full retirement benefits, saw his fellow firefighters rally behind him, offering to donate their sick and vacation time to help him reach the milestone. The collective effort totaled nearly 3,000 hours, but city officials ultimately rejected the proposal, citing legal constraints.
City Hall issued a statement over the weekend saying that it could not legally adjust Holl’s service time to qualify him for a full pension.
Public sentiment continues to grow in support of the Holl family, with more than 1,300 petition signatures gathered in the past few days urging the city to reconsider.
