Excerpts from RBLandmark.com:
Spencer Kimura, the former chief of the Riverside Fire Department, was quietly let go last week just before the village board meeting on July 16. While the village has not officially announced his termination, it was confirmed by 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, did not provide much detail about the reason behind 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€
Frances confirmed that Kimura will not receive a severance package or any special agreement. He had no formal contract when he was hired in 2011 to help stabilize the fire department following a period of instability that ended with the firing of his predecessor, Kevin Mulligan. Kimura’s annual salary was $80,371.
Matthew Buckley, who previously served as Kimura’s deputy fire chief, has now been named interim fire chief. In addition to his full-time role as deputy police chief in neighboring Lyons, Buckley will also serve part-time as fire chief.
According to Frances, the appointment is meant to allow for a review of the fire department's command structure and whether any changes are needed. The department has traditionally operated with a part-time chief and volunteer firefighters. Kimura worked 32 hours per week, as reported by 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 firing, which had caused division within the department.
Mulligan later filed a lawsuit against the village and Buckley, eventually settling for $350,000. However, tensions continued. 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 dismissed earlier this year by a U.S. District Court judge.
Buckley, who raised concerns about Mulligan’s behavior that led to the termination, said he is working closely with all members of the command staff. “I’m using the officer corps in a collaborative way to ensure that projects and services continue at the highest level,†he said. “Every supervisor is on board with helping to make sure everything gets done properly. We’re all looking to move past the past and move forward together.â€
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