Lexington leadership has responded to the recent resignation of Fire Chief Keefe Radtke, denying that they demanded the resignation.
In a statement published last Wednesday, September 17 to the village’s Facebook page, while leadership did thank Radtke for his years of service, they did ask for his resignation as “it was felt that the department lacked cohesiveness.” By asking for his resignation, the Village claims that it was attempting to “alleviate the need for a public meeting to terminate his appointment,” and the request “would have allowed him to leave with privacy and dignity rather than create a public spectacle.”
Instead, the Village noted that the chief issued his own statement, but called it “pointed and divisive.”
Radtke announced his resignation on Monday, September 16, via the fire department’s social media, in which he alleged that the village’s government “has repeatedly ignored the urgent needs of the fire department, operated behind closed doors and disregarded established policies and procedures.” He also alleged that the village had “failed to secure critical township contracts, undermined the chain of command, and refused to address slanderous, false accusations against” the chief and department members, despite Radtke providing proof against the accusations.
While the council’s statement does not address those allegations, the village statement does share that Assistant Fire Chief James Johnson will be stepping in as the interim chief until a new chief is appointed, and says that the “Village intends to work with the fire department staff to obtain a recommendation for a new chief.” In addition, they plan to review department bylaws and procedures.
Village Manager Lori Fisher said in an email received Monday, September 22, that the village “will be working with the department on sending a recommendation to Council for the appointment of a Chief this week,” and added that “though [the] Council appoints the position, they will be leaning on the department as we assess internal processes and resolve some concerns.”
Read the statement here:
