By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – St. Louis Police are investigating the city's fire department.
The inquiry began last week after a complaint surfaced that new fire department recruits were doing personal work for top fire officials on department time. That allegedly included demolition and cleanup at property those department leaders own.
St. Louis Public Safety Director Sam Simon said someone sent him a written complaint, and he passed it along to police.
"Just that the police are involved doesn't necessarily mean that it's criminal," Simon said. "But when we get some kind of written documentation on anything, regarding any agency in city government, we take it seriously. And it was forwarded over to the police department."
Simon would not say who sent the complaint.
A spokesman for the St. Louis Fire Department would not provide details either, saying only that it's a personnel matter.
However the police department did confirm a preliminary investigation is underway.