Fresno's Fire Chief Resigns on Eve of Further Scrutiny

The city of Fresno is looking for a new fire chief after Rob Brown abruptly resigned Tuesday afternoon.

Brown has been on leave since the middle of June when he was arrested on domestic violence charges. 

Investigators say he attacked his wife. She also works for the city of Fresno.

Brown is facing criminal charges.

He was also facing an internal affairs investigation by the city. And Brown’s attorney says interviews in that investigation were to begin Wednesday.

Rob Brown was set to begin the fight to save his job as Fresno’s fire chief.

He was facing an internal affairs investigation by the city into his arrest June 12th at his Northwest Fresno home after a call to 9-1-1 from Brown's wife, Beth.

According to the criminal report Brown's wife told investigators he hit her and knocked her down. And the couple's oldest sons sprayed Brown with pepper spray to stop the attack.

Brown faces criminal charges.

And he and his family also faced questioning from the city for the internal affairs investigation.

“He didn't want to put his wife and his family through the stress of that,” said Marshall Hodgkins, Rob Brown’s attorney.

His attorney says Rob Brown has also had health problems as a result of the stress he's been under.

Fresno's city manager, Bruce Rudd, released a statement about Brown's resignation saying quote: "I have accepted rob brown's resignation as city of Fresno’s fire chief.  I want to thank him for his service to the city and the contributions that he made to the fire department.  I wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Brown's wife, Beth, is the emergency manager for the city.

Her attorney says her status hasn't changed. She's still employed with the city and plans to stay.

And she supports her husband whether he decided to resign his job or not.

The attorneys for the couple say the family has been in counseling since Rob Brown's arrest.

The city of Fresno plans to do a national search for Brown's replacement.

In the meantime, Fresno's deputy fire chief will continue as interim chief.