A Pittsburgh firefighter accused of entering a South Side Flats house and attacking a resident will return to work next week, to the chagrin of Fire Bureau brass.

A trial board of firefighters met Friday to consider Fire Chief Darryl Jones' suspension of Timothy P. Coyne, 23, who has been off of work since the Jan. 9 incident that brought charges of assault and drunkenness.

But after lengthy discussion, the panel chosen partly by union leaders and partly by management, decided to hold off on its consideration until after the criminal case is resolved.

"I'm not happy with it," said Chief Jones. "... I wanted the trial board to make the decision, guilty or not guilty."

A guilty decision would have allowed the city to fire Mr. Coyne.

But state law and the city's contract with the International Association of Firefighters allows the board to opt to postpone its deliberations.

Mr. Coyne will undergo a physical and probably return to work by Thursday. He will not get back pay for his four weeks of suspension.

"If he's found guilty in the legal court, then chances are the trial board is going to find him guilty," said Chief Jones.

Union President Joe King could not be reached for comment.

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