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PLEASURE POINT - Gilroy's interim fire chief resigned Monday after he was ticketed for furnishing alcohol to a minor outside a Pleasure Point liquor store Friday night.
LeeAnn McPhillips, human resources director for the city of Gilroy, said Fire Chief Roger Bloom, 52, tendered his resignation after apologizing to Gilroy city officials Monday morning.
"He was very sorry, very remorseful and very disappointed in himself," said McPhillips.
"It wasn't in line with our organization's values, and his resigning was the correct thing to do."
Deputies and Santa Cruz police visited several convenience stores Friday night with a 20-year-old "minor decoy" who asked people entering the stores to buy him alcohol.
They ticketed seven people for furnishing alcohol to a minor that night including Bloom, said sheriff's deputy April Skalland.
About 8:30 p.m., the decoy asked Bloom to buy him beer outside Pleasure Point Liquor and Grocery at 4000 Portola Drive, Skalland said. Bloom declined the decoy's money, but bought him beer with his own money and gave it to him, she said.
Skalland said Bloom, who lives in Fremont, was cooperative with authorities as they wrote him the citation. The sting was part of a yearlong effort funded by a grant from the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Deputies have said underage drinking is a problem in Santa Cruz County, often because minors drink and drive.
Bloom had been Gilroy's interim fire chief since Aug. 17.
He took the reins from Dale Foster, who retired. Bloom had been a firefighter in Palo Alto. His firefighting career spanned more than 20 years, McPhillips said.
"He came to us very highly recommended," McPhillips said.
Gilroy officials said have not said when a new chief would be named to lead its 40-employee department. Bloom's annual salary was $174,300, McPhillips said.
"The city administrator will need to assess it and make some decisions," said McPhillips.
Follow Sentinel reporter Stephen Baxter on Twitter: @sbaxter_sc
