Excerpts from RBLandmark.com:
Spencer Kimura was quietly let go from his position as chief of the Riverside Fire Department last week, just before the village board meeting on July 16. While the village has not officially announced his termination, it was confirmed by local officials on Monday after a reporter noticed that Kimura’s name had been removed from the village’s website.
Village Manager Jessica Frances, who made the decision to terminate Kimura late on July 16, offered little explanation regarding his dismissal. Similarly, Village President Ben Sells remained silent on the matter, stating, “It’s an internal personnel issue, and I won’t be commenting.â€
According to Frances, the village is not offering Kimura a severance package or any additional compensation. Kimura, who was hired in 2011 to stabilize the department following a period of instability after his predecessor, Kevin Mulligan, was fired, did not have a formal contract. His annual salary was $80,371.
Matthew Buckley, who previously served as Kimura’s deputy fire chief, has now been appointed as the interim fire chief. Buckley, who also holds the role of deputy police chief in the neighboring town of Lyons, will take on part-time responsibilities in the fire department.
Frances explained that this move is intended to allow her to evaluate the overall structure of the fire department and determine if any changes are necessary. The department has traditionally operated with a part-time chief and volunteer firefighters. Kimura worked 32 hours per week, according to Frances.
For now, the village has not initiated a search for a permanent fire chief.
Kimura, a 57-year-old resident of the north suburbs, never fully integrated into the community. A retired battalion chief from the Glenview Fire Department, he was brought in to restore stability after Mulligan’s controversial firing, which had caused divisions within the department.
Mulligan later filed a lawsuit against the village and Buckley, ultimately settling for $350,000 to drop the case.
However, tensions didn’t end there. In 2014, four Riverside firefighters — including three lieutenants — sued the village and Kimura, claiming they were unfairly disciplined due to their loyalty to Mulligan. That case was completely dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge earlier this year.
Buckley, whose concerns about Mulligan’s conduct led to the termination, stated that he is working closely with all members of the command staff. “I’m utilizing the officer corps in a collaborative effort to ensure that projects and services continue at the highest level,†Buckley said. “Every one of the supervisors is on board with working together to make sure everything gets done properly. We’re all looking to move beyond the past and move forward.â€
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