Omaha fire chief retiring

After Robert Dahlquist leaves, a past president of the firefighters union will serve as acting chief.

By Karen Sloan and Erin Grace
Omaha World-Herald

OMAHA, Neb. — Omaha Fire Chief Robert Dahlquist can add his name to the growing list of firefighters retiring in 2007.

Mayor Mike Fahey announced Tuesday that Dahlquist is stepping down after four years at the helm of the department.

Fahey said he has appointed Assistant Chief Mike McDonnell, past president of the firefighters union, to serve as acting chief once Dahlquist leaves Friday.

The mayor's office said that an internal search for a new chief will begin immediately.

Dahlquist said his decision to leave has nothing to do with the shootings last week that left nine dead at Westroads Mall and threw paramedics and other fire personnel into crisis-management mode.

"I was very proud of this organization," Dahlquist said of the Fire Department response.

Dahlquist, 49, said that after 26 1/2 years with the department, it's time to spend more time with his family. Beyond that, he said, he does not have definite plans.

"I've been blessed with a career anybody would give their right arm for," he said, calling the department his "second family."

In a statement, Fahey called Dahlquist "a tremendous and dedicated employee."

Dahlquist said that Fahey's selection of McDonnell is an "excellent choice" in part because McDonnell is a good communicator and understands the history of the department.

McDonnell's appointment drew questions and skepticism from at least two City Council members, however.

Council President Dan Welch and Councilman Franklin Thompson, who both have raised questions about firefighter staffing and benefits in the past, said it is unusual that a former union president would rise to the department's top post in less than a year.

McDonnell stepped down as union president in January when he was promoted from captain to battalion chief. He was promoted to assistant chief in October.

"I don't understand it. Three promotions in a year seems unique," Welch said. "It appears to me he's being groomed to be chief."

Thompson said McDonnell appears to be on the "fast track."

Fahey Chief of Staff Paul Landow said that McDonnell is the only current assistant chief, because two others have retired within the past several weeks. Senior battalion chiefs are temporarily filling those positions, he said.

"The issue right now is that at this moment, he is the only assistant chief," Landow said. "He is highly qualified and will serve as acting chief until we can do a full search."

Landow said McDonnell scored highest on both his battalion chief and assistant chief tests.

About 72 firefighters have retired or put in their retirement notices in 2007, according to the finance department. That is about 11 percent of the department's authorized strength of 661.

One major catalyst for the retirements is that the existing fire contract, which allows for generous pension benefits, expires at the end of the year.