The body of a fired Monarch Fire Protection battalion chief was found Thursday morning near his Kirkwood home.

Fred W. Goodson's body was found about 10:07 a.m. by Kirkwood police and firefighters in a wooded area in the 2000 block of Meadowtree Lane. The victim had died of an apparent self-inflicted injury, according to a police press release. The St. Louis County Medical Examiner's Office will make a final determination of cause of death.

Goodson, who was in his early 60s, had been with the district since 1975.

Goodson was one of four command-level officer fired Nov. 22 by the fire district board, which blamed them for creating a hostile work environment for four female employees who sued the district in 2007.

Two of the women won a judgement against the district of $200,000 plus interest and attorneys fees. The firings were in response to a Nov. 15 appellate court ruling denying an appeal of the suit.

Monarch board member Robin Harris, the only one of the three board members who opposed the firings on Nov. 22, said he was 'shocked and horrified to learn of this."

"I believe that this action was in response to the destruction of a career firefighter's life by an action on the board's part without due process," Harris said.

Besides Goodson, Assistant Chief Les Crews, Deputy Chief Cary Spiegel and Battalion Chief Mike Davis were fired.

The Monarch Concerned Taxpayers, a district watchdog group, sent out a press release saying members "are extremely shocked and saddened to learn of the death."

Board members Kim Evans and Steve Swyers, who supported the firings, did not respond to a reporter's phone call for comment.

Former board member Rick Gans called Goodson "among the best scene commanders in all of west St. Louis County, known for his uncanny ability to direct emergency personnel, radio traffic and other officers with complete cool even under the toughest conditions."