The City of Palm Bay has terminated Assistant Fire Chief Brandon McKee, as confirmed by a letter obtained by WFTV. City Manager Matthew Morton informed McKee in writing that his employment with Palm Bay Fire Rescue ended immediately on Aug. 20. The letter describes McKee as an at-will employee and states the city determined it was in its 'best interest' to terminate his role. No specific reason for the decision is provided in the document. A city spokesperson told WFTV she had no additional information about the termination.
The letter from Morton emphasizes that the decision is 'final and binding.' McKee was instructed to return all city property before receiving his final paycheck, which is scheduled for Aug. 28. The document does not outline any formal process for appealing the termination or requesting further details.
McKee's role as assistant fire chief included overseeing operations at the city's fire stations and coordinating with other public safety agencies. His tenure with Palm Bay Fire Rescue dated back to 2018, according to previous city records. The city has not commented on whether McKee's departure will affect ongoing fire department operations or staffing.
Residents and local officials have not publicly addressed the termination, though the city has not indicated plans for a press conference or public statement. The lack of transparency around the decision has raised questions among some community members, who say they were unaware of any disciplinary issues or performance concerns prior to the announcement.