SALEM LAKES, Wis. — The internal situation inside the Salem Lakes Fire Department has escalated, with a second high-ranking official now placed on leave as an ongoing investigation continues behind closed doors.
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Bailey J. Sokolski, 25, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Bailey J. Sokolski, 25, of Salem Lakes, is facing a felony strangulation charge and two additional criminal charges after a woman accused him of repeatedly touching her sexually without consent, pulling her hair and choking her during their first time hanging out in person. Sokolski paid $750 in statutory cash
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha woman reached an extraordinary milestone this week, celebrating her 100th birthday surrounded by recognition from city officials who honored a century of life marked by education, volunteerism and service to others. Ann V. Stefancic received a surprise visit Wednesday afternoon at her home from Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala, City Administrator John Morrissey, Deputy Police Chief Brent Sagedal and
Brittany E. Hyde, 33, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum had an embarrassing case of déjà vu Friday when Brittany E. Hyde, 33, of Salem Lakes, appeared before him for the second time in barely two days. Kellum released Hyde
Samuel A. Escobedo, 35, of Round Lake Beach, Illinois(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — An Illinois man accused of fleeing from Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies and driving recklessly during a pursuit into Illinois was arrested Friday, August 14, 2026, and is now in custody. Samuel A. Escobedo, 35, of
Rodney Keith Coleman Jr., 27, of Detroit(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — One of two Detroit men accused of selling a stolen luxury SUV to a man in Kenosha County for $22,000 cash was arrested and appeared in court Friday, while his alleged accomplice remains wanted on a $75,000
Amarco D. Rowland-Davis, 21, of Waukegan(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — An Illinois man accused of sending a threatening Instagram message to a Kenosha middle schooler who had a protection order against him was ordered held on $1,000 cash bail Thursday by Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum.
KENOSHA, Wis. — New records obtained by Kenosha County Eye reveal that liberal criminal defense attorney Mackenzie Renner was the subject of two internal investigations during her lengthy career with the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, including one that resulted in an unpaid suspension for violating state work rules prohibiting
Anastasia M. Mendoza, 32, of Beach Park, Illinois(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 32-year-old woman accused of repeatedly punching a woman in the head and then stomping her head into a parked van was charged Thursday with a felony — just three days after police say she drove
Bailey J. Sokolski, 25, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Bailey J. Sokolski, 25, of Salem Lakes, is facing a felony strangulation charge and two additional criminal charges after a woman accused him of repeatedly touching her sexually without consent, pulling her hair and choking her during their first time hanging out in person. Sokolski paid $750 in statutory cash
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha woman reached an extraordinary milestone this week, celebrating her 100th birthday surrounded by recognition from city officials who honored a century of life marked by education, volunteerism and service to others. Ann V. Stefancic received a surprise visit Wednesday afternoon at her home from Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala, City Administrator John Morrissey, Deputy Police Chief Brent Sagedal and
Brittany E. Hyde, 33, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum had an embarrassing case of déjà vu Friday when Brittany E. Hyde, 33, of Salem Lakes, appeared before him for the second time in barely two days. Kellum released Hyde Wednesday on no-cash bail in a domestic-abuse case, ordering her not to drink
Samuel A. Escobedo, 35, of Round Lake Beach, Illinois(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — An Illinois man accused of fleeing from Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies and driving recklessly during a pursuit into Illinois was arrested Friday, August 14, 2026, and is now in custody. Samuel A. Escobedo, 35, of Round Lake Beach, Illinois, is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety and fleeing
Rodney Keith Coleman Jr., 27, of Detroit(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — One of two Detroit men accused of selling a stolen luxury SUV to a man in Kenosha County for $22,000 cash was arrested and appeared in court Friday, while his alleged accomplice remains wanted on a $75,000 arrest warrant. Rodney Keith Coleman Jr., 27, of Detroit, was taken into custody
Amarco D. Rowland-Davis, 21, of Waukegan(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — An Illinois man accused of sending a threatening Instagram message to a Kenosha middle schooler who had a protection order against him was ordered held on $1,000 cash bail Thursday by Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum. Amarco D. Rowland-Davis, 21, of Waukegan, is charged with computer message-threaten/injury or harm
KENOSHA, Wis. — New records obtained by Kenosha County Eye reveal that liberal criminal defense attorney Mackenzie Renner was the subject of two internal investigations during her lengthy career with the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, including one that resulted in an unpaid suspension for violating state work rules prohibiting “Intimidating, interfering with, harassing, demeaning, treating discourteously, or bullying; or using profane abusive
Anastasia M. Mendoza, 32, of Beach Park, Illinois(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 32-year-old woman accused of repeatedly punching a woman in the head and then stomping her head into a parked van was charged Thursday with a felony — just three days after police say she drove while impaired with her three young children, ages nine months, two and three,
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha’s two outdoor public swimming pools will close for the year this Sunday, August 16, ending a remarkably short 2026 season that lasted just two months and leaving families without the city pools during some of the final—and potentially hottest—weeks of summer. Washington Park Pool and Anderson Park Pool opened June 16, according to both the City’s latest announcement and
Logan Christopher Kramer, 27, of Bristol(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 27-year-old Bristol man is facing two felony drug charges after prosecutors say he was a passenger in a car that fled from a Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputy into Illinois, then tried to jump into the driver’s seat during a high-risk stop and later gave deputies a fake name in an
Camille L. Northern, 20, of Racine(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 20-year-old Racine woman who was already out on bail in two separate criminal cases allegedly announced to her friends that she was going to steal a man’s running car from a Kenosha gas station, ignored their warnings not to do it and then drove away in the vehicle, according to
Constantine Minos Vlamis, 19, of Hinsdale, Illinois and George Reveliotis, 19, of Oak Brook, Illinois(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — What began as a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office deputy checking out what appeared to be an underage drinking party at Country Thunder ended with two Illinois men facing drug charges after deputies allegedly found cocaine, ketamine and MDMA in bags inside a
Jaime Hernandez, 33, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 33-year-old Kenosha man accused of driving drunk for the third time, stumbling through a bar parking lot and then backing his car into another vehicle was released Thursday on no-cash bail by newly appointed Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum. Jaime Hernandez, 33, of Kenosha, is charged with misdemeanor operating
Jonathan H. Palacios Santana, 35, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 35-year-old Kenosha man is facing six felony charges and a maximum of 36 years in prison after prosecutors say he used another man’s stolen debit card six times at businesses in Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie, including a liquor store, gas station, Walmart and McDonald’s. Jonathan H. Palacios Santana, 35,
Demarion S. Tanner, 22, of Racine(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Racine man allegedly tried several different names and birth dates during a Kenosha traffic stop Wednesday, but police say his attempt to conceal his identity had one rather significant flaw: his real first name was hanging from his rearview mirror. Demarion S. Tanner, 22, of Racine, was charged Thursday with
Alexandria R. Czarnecki, 27, of Racine(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — For those wondering how newly appointed Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum will treat criminal defendants, his handling of an alleged third-time drunk driver is perhaps the clearest indication yet that Kellum will be a liberal activist, soft-on-crime court commissioner. The position is one of the most consequential in the Kenosha County
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County voters will see only one name printed on the ballot for sheriff this November after Gary Roberts failed twice in his efforts to qualify — first as an independent candidate and then as a Democratic write-in candidate. Roberts, the City of Kenosha’s Director of Inspections and a former police officer, initially sought to run for sheriff as an
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha Police have released the identity of the 67-year-old man killed Monday in a violent crash that prosecutors allege was caused by a 21-year-old Bristol woman driving too fast and under the influence of marijuana. The victim was identified as David A. Aiken, 67. Kenosha Police provided Aiken’s name Wednesday in response to a records request from Kenosha County Eye.
Matthew M. Hahn, 44, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 44-year-old Kenosha man is being held on only $5,000 cash bail after police say he violently plunged a five-inch folding knife into a door frame immediately next to a man’s head and later sent him a threatening photograph showing what appeared to be a firearm alongside a large kitchen knife.
Sirjordan G. Cosby, 35, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 35-year-old Kenosha man with a serious felony record is being held on $25,000 cash bail after prosecutors say he stole a Jeep, led Kenosha Police on a dangerous high-speed chase through residential streets, crashed and overturned the vehicle, and then fled on foot before being tracked to a garage by
KENOSHA, Wis. — Deshawn L. Boyd, 31, returned to a Kenosha County courtroom Wednesday after a bench warrant that had remained outstanding since September 2020 was executed. Boyd faces 12 felony counts stemming from an alleged 2018 armed robbery spree in Kenosha. His alleged co-defendant, Dion X. Buckley, 34, was charged alongside Boyd in the original criminal complaint. Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel
Frank G. Farella III, 30, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 30-year-old Kenosha man is facing a felony after police say an extraordinarily high level of intoxication culminated with him urinating on a hospital floor and kicking a Kenosha police officer in the face. Frank G. Farella III was charged Wednesday with felony battery to a law enforcement officer, resisting
Douglas M. Imburgia, 37, of Trevor(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 37-year-old Trevor man accused of repeatedly following and harassing the mother of his child was charged Wednesday with felony stalking and domestic-abuse disorderly conduct after the woman told investigators his behavior had escalated to the point that she feared he could seriously hurt or kill her. Douglas M. Imburgia, 37,
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner won a closely watched three-way Republican primary Tuesday night, defeating Captains Tony Gonzalez and James Beller and securing the Republican nomination for another term as sheriff. Zoerner won the race fair and square, receiving more votes than either of his challengers. But the results came with an interesting distinction: the incumbent sheriff failed to capture
Bailey J. Sokolski, 25, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Bailey J. Sokolski, 25, of Salem Lakes, is facing a felony strangulation charge and two additional criminal charges after a woman accused him of repeatedly touching her sexually without consent, pulling her hair and choking her during their first time hanging out in person. Sokolski paid $750 in statutory cash
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha woman reached an extraordinary milestone this week, celebrating her 100th birthday surrounded by recognition from city officials who honored a century of life marked by education, volunteerism and service to others. Ann V. Stefancic received a surprise visit Wednesday afternoon at her home from Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala, City Administrator John Morrissey, Deputy Police Chief Brent Sagedal and
Brittany E. Hyde, 33, of Salem Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum had an embarrassing case of déjà vu Friday when Brittany E. Hyde, 33, of Salem Lakes, appeared before him for the second time in barely two days. Kellum released Hyde Wednesday on no-cash bail in a domestic-abuse case, ordering her not to drink
Samuel A. Escobedo, 35, of Round Lake Beach, Illinois(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — An Illinois man accused of fleeing from Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputies and driving recklessly during a pursuit into Illinois was arrested Friday, August 14, 2026, and is now in custody. Samuel A. Escobedo, 35, of Round Lake Beach, Illinois, is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety and fleeing
Rodney Keith Coleman Jr., 27, of Detroit(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — One of two Detroit men accused of selling a stolen luxury SUV to a man in Kenosha County for $22,000 cash was arrested and appeared in court Friday, while his alleged accomplice remains wanted on a $75,000 arrest warrant. Rodney Keith Coleman Jr., 27, of Detroit, was taken into custody
Amarco D. Rowland-Davis, 21, of Waukegan(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — An Illinois man accused of sending a threatening Instagram message to a Kenosha middle schooler who had a protection order against him was ordered held on $1,000 cash bail Thursday by Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum. Amarco D. Rowland-Davis, 21, of Waukegan, is charged with computer message-threaten/injury or harm
KENOSHA, Wis. — New records obtained by Kenosha County Eye reveal that liberal criminal defense attorney Mackenzie Renner was the subject of two internal investigations during her lengthy career with the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, including one that resulted in an unpaid suspension for violating state work rules prohibiting “Intimidating, interfering with, harassing, demeaning, treating discourteously, or bullying; or using profane abusive
Anastasia M. Mendoza, 32, of Beach Park, Illinois(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 32-year-old woman accused of repeatedly punching a woman in the head and then stomping her head into a parked van was charged Thursday with a felony — just three days after police say she drove while impaired with her three young children, ages nine months, two and three,
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha’s two outdoor public swimming pools will close for the year this Sunday, August 16, ending a remarkably short 2026 season that lasted just two months and leaving families without the city pools during some of the final—and potentially hottest—weeks of summer. Washington Park Pool and Anderson Park Pool opened June 16, according to both the City’s latest announcement and
Logan Christopher Kramer, 27, of Bristol(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 27-year-old Bristol man is facing two felony drug charges after prosecutors say he was a passenger in a car that fled from a Kenosha County Sheriff’s deputy into Illinois, then tried to jump into the driver’s seat during a high-risk stop and later gave deputies a fake name in an
Camille L. Northern, 20, of Racine(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 20-year-old Racine woman who was already out on bail in two separate criminal cases allegedly announced to her friends that she was going to steal a man’s running car from a Kenosha gas station, ignored their warnings not to do it and then drove away in the vehicle, according to
Constantine Minos Vlamis, 19, of Hinsdale, Illinois and George Reveliotis, 19, of Oak Brook, Illinois(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — What began as a Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office deputy checking out what appeared to be an underage drinking party at Country Thunder ended with two Illinois men facing drug charges after deputies allegedly found cocaine, ketamine and MDMA in bags inside a
Jaime Hernandez, 33, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 33-year-old Kenosha man accused of driving drunk for the third time, stumbling through a bar parking lot and then backing his car into another vehicle was released Thursday on no-cash bail by newly appointed Kenosha County Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum. Jaime Hernandez, 33, of Kenosha, is charged with misdemeanor operating
Jonathan H. Palacios Santana, 35, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 35-year-old Kenosha man is facing six felony charges and a maximum of 36 years in prison after prosecutors say he used another man’s stolen debit card six times at businesses in Kenosha and Pleasant Prairie, including a liquor store, gas station, Walmart and McDonald’s. Jonathan H. Palacios Santana, 35,
Demarion S. Tanner, 22, of Racine(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Racine man allegedly tried several different names and birth dates during a Kenosha traffic stop Wednesday, but police say his attempt to conceal his identity had one rather significant flaw: his real first name was hanging from his rearview mirror. Demarion S. Tanner, 22, of Racine, was charged Thursday with
Alexandria R. Czarnecki, 27, of Racine(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — For those wondering how newly appointed Court Commissioner Daniel E. Kellum will treat criminal defendants, his handling of an alleged third-time drunk driver is perhaps the clearest indication yet that Kellum will be a liberal activist, soft-on-crime court commissioner. The position is one of the most consequential in the Kenosha County
51 Responses
It’s almost like if you pay attention, there’s not 1 honest one anymore.
Follow the money.
Wipe the slate
To wipe the slate clean you would have to keep wiping until humanity is erased. Time to start over…
This is the worst kept story in SLFD. They were (pick your term) dating, a couple, bed buddies, friends with benefits. They showed up at night in a department vehicle together. They talked bad about the chief whenever he wasn’t around. They pushed out anyone who had experience, anyone who stood up for what was right, anyone who questioned them in any way, shape, or form. It was their way or the highway. More Torres than Keske but both covered for each other and looked out for each other so they could keep their jobs secure. They deserve everything they get out of this investigation, which I hope includes their jobs…for all the people who went through that department only to leave because of their bullshit.
If all you say is true, why people can’t keep it out of their jobs is beyond me !
Such a waste of for a few minutes of ….
Oh it wasn’t minutes. Their secret not so secret relationship has been going on for over a decade.
Minutes each time
At least they didn’t add to the population.
Amen. Torres more than Keske. But they have torn apart morale piece by piece and bullied out the few experienced people left. The village paramedic service collapsed because of this.
Drive them out then beg for them to come back once they realized they were screwed and Carr was staying put and their bff administrator was being sent packing.
You are so correct girlfriend she is has been ever since she was on the SLFD the first time and she was forced to resign. You are correct in your statement without a doubt.
Oh wow it’s almost as if the only reason she got that job is because she is living with the assistant chief. Im glad to see the Village is finally taking all the complaints seriously.
Dumpster fire that has some of the top paid firefighter paramedics in area. Makes no sense
How is that possible ?
This department has said for a long time that they only get newbie’s to only loose them after they’re trained to other departments that pay lots more.
Which is it ?
Newest union contract finally put them on pace with the rest of the state/neighboring departments that are full-time for pay. That should hopefully help with retention. It was never that way before. They were the lowest paid full-time department in the entire state.
Shouldn’t be the highest, if you’re such a small municipality. How the hell can the tax payers afford for them to be at the top of the pay scale
Not small, cach up
Just ask Dennis Faber. One of the largest municipalities is the state
Just lost paddock lake contract. And by the way 15k people is pretty damn small.
The are small LMAO they can survive with a handful of fisties and don’t need the expensive UNION bullshit
Karma is a wonderful thing. Might have fooled some people but she proved to be the same spiteful hateful person she’s always been. There’s a reason she was fired from Salem before. The writing is on the walls. Everyone’s just waiting for the official ‘bye bye’ and there’s no coming back this time around.
Taking her shirt off and throwing it at the chief during a meeting should of been reason enough not to hire her back.
If only they would have listened to those who were trying to tell them it was a bad idea or that this behavior had happened.
If I’m losing my job, it’s not going to be an affair with a woman who looks like a miniature Chris Farley.
Lmao
Jill wasn’t always this way.
But I have seen the spiteful hateful ooze out of her.
Jill, loose the weight.
You know the rest
What was the old bumper sticker….FIREMEN ARE ALWAYS IN HEAT
Find em Hot Leave em Wet
I wouldn’t call these firemen.
She can’t even go into fires due to a medical condition. Not sure how she was even promoted (oh wait…..I do)
Chasing her around with a firehose, and this wasn’t “training “
Well that’s to no surprise…. its a well known fact that the two suspended chiefs were romantically seeing each other…. I have a inside source that says they would call on the way to a after hours emergency at separate timeframes, but show up in the same car. I have another inside source that says they would publicly defamate the character of their frontline People in front of other staff members and scream at people so hard they would change the color of their fire trucks. There have been numerous good members that have resigned from that department due to the treatment from both of the chiefs. Salem is better off without them.
They shouldn’t lose their jobs because of the sex. In the pictures neither wear a wedding ring. I don’t know.
But if their lack of leadership styles or bad leadership style makes them bad bosses then why is this ten years in the making ?
Or is this just Chief Carr finally dealing with it ?
Change is slow in government jobs.
They only got to those positions because they were able to convince someone that didn’t know anything about Salem or it’s history (Carr) that they were saviors and could fix the mess that was left by Steve and Lejcar. All they did was make things 100 times worse. Positions created for people that never existed before (Division chief) or shouldn’t have even gone to them to being with (assistant chief). Their relationship = not new. Their positions new to Chief Carr coming on board so only about 3 years.
It’s sad the amount of damage that has been done to this department at the hands of a few people who only cared about themselves and elevating their position/status.
Its not the first time an officer recently lost their job for sleeping with a subordinate!!
Salem Lakes is a continuous shit show.
Correct me if I’m wrong but Torres is married. I also believe that the relationship issue stems from the hierarchy of leadership: Assistant Chief and Lieutenant having a decades long affair. The chain of command has been impacted because if a firefighter or paramedic has an issue with the lieutenant, they can’t exactly go up a rung and complain to her boyfriend, right? And Carr turns a blind eye so issues don’t get dealt with and good employees leave. In fact he created two full time command positions specifically for Keske and Torres and bypassed the normal interviewing/hiring process or at least it was for show because they were already promised the positions. Where does the Fire Commission come in on this?
Only thing you can do is show up at a fire commission meeting and ask
Torres is married you are correct
Get rid of Carr, Jesse and Torres. This has been a toxic environment since Lejcar was put in charge. It went from bad to worse. No different than the Salem board. The village is at wa with eachother and it is crumbling. Pretty soon it will be where Silver Lake was. Who will come to Sakems Rescue? No one wants to deal with them now.
Keske, not Jesse. Damn auto correct.
So glad we paid all that money to find a new chief yet we kept the old one. Keeping the trash to rot.
Every single administrator involved with kenosha/kenosha county is pure shit. Line all of them up against a wall.
The real sad thing is the town wanted this the town push this idea of a town fire department and now can’t manage their way out of a shit house. The town keeps making the same bad decisions and never learns from it. That is the definition of insanity. These two employees of the town are just the aftermath of horrible decisions from leadership and leadership not willing to make the necessary adjustments. People don’t leave companies they leave leaders.
When the consolidation happened, there was a Chief who orchestrated that division into one. It became one of the best departments in the State of Wisconsin. It worked because the departments were willing to work together to make it successful. Yes, there were those who bucked the change and didnt want to conform. Those slowly went away. It became a departments that those that served, respected the leadership and were proud to wear the uniform. It was a family, a brotherhood. There is no longer any of that. Hardly any even live in the area. Its time for the Administrator and the board realize that they failed the citizens of our town. Time to discuss with the past retired Chief… Chief Slover, to see what will it take to fix this major failure, before anymore members get hurt or patients end up with delayed response or lower level of care than is needed. We in Salem need to speak up and demand a change. Where is our tax dollars going.
Best in the state? Doubtful, better than it is currently, very possible.
Oh, yes, best in state under Slover.
It’s easy to criticize a system that was badly broken under Lecar and Inspector Steve. Chief Carr is doing his best with what he has, and I think if he’s given the time and support, he hopefully can turn things around.
The support is the key factor!! Chief Carr will succeed if the board gives him the support!
First hand experience Torres didn’t care about her crews, safety of them, or the community. I was scheduled for a 48 hours shift (my choice and I was fine with that) the weekend of the fair. She sends out a shame email about people not signing up to staff the fair and includes me. I lived 1.5 hrs away so doing a 4 hour shift at the fair would not be logical and if I tied it to my weekend shift I would be putting in 52 hours in 3 days. I questioned why she felt it was professional so put me on list of not signing up for the fair when I was covering the staffed rigs for 48 hours. Instead of recognizing my contributions, she goes off on a I don’t respect her and she will be going to the Chief.
That is proof you can’t question her in any way, shape, or form. She was a total micromanaging, control freak. (And luckily this is all in email so a public records request can show it happened). Example two: calling crews to clean her office window. Then standing their inspecting and saying “make sure you get all the way to the top”.
I get called into the Chief’s office with Keske present. I get the whole why do you not respect Chief Torres speech. I against explain why I questioned her actions. Keske walked out and immediately went to Torres (I saw first hand).
The next month I was not scheduled for any hours…do you care to guess who does the schedule? Yup, Torres.
Seeing her clear game I resigned to Chief Carr in an email. No response from him or any leadership.
In October Torres emails me about picking up hours, signing a contract and such. Um…clearly no communication amongst leadership at all as she wasn’t even told I resigned. But when staffing was an issue not Torres was reaching out for me to take hours again.
I will say I am the utmost respect for Chief Carr. He really is doing the best with what he has to work with. It is unfortunate he believed in his Assistance, because when he wasn’t around they didnt’ have his back. They would trash him to crews just about every shift I worked. In my decades for fire service this was the most dysfunctional leadership team I have worked for. The crews are also great for the most part. But they are micromanaged to death. Not allowed to make decisions and never know when 2 assistant chiefs would just show up on a regular EMS call to critique your actions. That is not leadership. That is micromanaging and insecurity.