By Sharla Steinman
Loveland Reporter-Herald
LOVELAND, Colo. — Since the termination process began for Loveland’s fire chief, the community has come together to show their support for Chief Tim Sendelbach through petitions, a fundraiser, and advocacy from local public officials.
On Friday, a group of Loveland residents launched a petition declaring no confidence in the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Board, along with a list of demands, including reinstating Sendelbach. A GoFundMe was also created Monday to help Sendelbach with legal fees. Several local officials have also voiced their support.
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Sendelbach was placed on paid administrative leave Jan. 28, but the board has not publicly stated its reasons for pursuing termination and declined to answer any questions about what it describes as a confidential personnel matter. Since he was placed on leave, the board has held multiple special meetings to discuss the matter with legal counsel in executive session.
On Monday, the authority board voted to continue with the termination process by approving to send Sendelbach a letter of intent to terminate, which per his contract, should include the board’s “just cause” reasons. The board and Sendelbach will meet at 9 a.m. Feb. 24 in a closed executive session to discuss the board’s reasons and from there, the board will have five days to issue a written decision, also according to his contract.
Longtime Loveland resident Michael DeDecker was among those concerned citizens who started the petition, he said in an emailed statement, adding that the group hopes to present their demands to the board at the next scheduled regular meeting, Feb. 25.
“We are hopeful that the people’s voices will be heard, and that the board will recognize the unity of this community on this issue,” DeDecker wrote in the emailed statement. “It is refreshing to witness the greater Loveland community coming together. This is an excellent opportunity for us to heal our community.”
The petition’s demands, which were supported by over 800 people in two days, include immediately reinstating Sendelbach; acting in the best interest of Loveland firefighters, LFRA personnel, and the residents the agency serves; and taking immediate corrective action to restore stability, transparency, accountability and public confidence within the authority.
DeDecker said that although reinstating the chief is important, that it is just one of the group’s concerns. He also stated that he hopes leadership priorities shift to address the population growth in the district.
“The more significant issue is the need for meaningful change within the board itself. Without that change, the same challenges will continue and likely worsen over time,” DeDecker wrote in the emailed statement. “ … What may have worked in the past is simply not sufficient to meet the demands of today or the future. It is critical that leadership evolve alongside our growing community to ensure the highest level of service, safety, and accountability moving forward.”
Sendelbach said he was grateful for the advocacy the community has shown him through the petition.
“It’s humbling to see that kind of support,” Sendelbach said.
Over 75% of Loveland Fire Rescue Authority’s staff signed a letter with a similar sentiment at the beginning of the month, also indicating their lack of confidence in the board.
To help Sendelbach with legal fees, Loveland resident Stephanie Lane created a GoFundMe, which had raised over $1,200 in less than 24 hours for the chief. The fundraiser has a $2,800 goal. Sendelbach previously told the Loveland Reporter-Herald he was in communication with attorneys.
“While the LFRA Board has the backing of taxpayer-funded resources, Chief Sendelbach must personally fund his legal defense,” the fundraiser’s description states. “ … Chief Sendelbach has dedicated his career to protecting our families, homes, and businesses. Now it is our turn to support him.”
Several local public officials have also voiced their support for Sendelbach, including former Loveland Mayor Jacki Marsh and former City Council member Jon Mallo, who worked alongside the chief as former LFRA board members, as well as Johnstown Mayor Michael Duncan.
“We were LFRA Directors up until 12/2/2025 and we believe it is highly unlikely that a catastrophic event occurred in the past two months; an event so significant that it would warrant the Chief’s immediate termination of employment,” Marsh and Mallo wrote in a joint letter addressed to Loveland Mayor Pat McFall, City Council, and the LFRA Board.
In the letter, they also wrote that they believed Sendelbach has, “demonstrated exceptional leadership, fiscal discipline, and an unwavering commitment to public safety, workforce development, and regional collaboration.” The letter also includes a list of Sendelbach’s accomplishments and mentions that the board unanimously approved a pay raise during his last performance review, which the letter stated was, “a clear and documented affirmation of confidence in his leadership and performance.”
Since being hired Sept. 1, 2021, Sendelbach has received over $65,000 in raises.
Johnstown Mayor Duncan and Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen shared their support during public comment at a special meeting.
Duncan also sent an emailed statement that based on his personal interactions with Sendelbach he has found him to be accountable and focused, among other qualities. While he respects the board’s responsibility to make difficult decisions, public confidence in those decisions requires a process that is fair, credible and grounded in documented facts, he added in the statement.
“Prolonged leadership uncertainty can undermine morale and retention and complicate the coordination regional partners depend on during complex incidents,” Duncan wrote in the statement. “For these reasons, Johnstown urges the reinstatement of Chief Tim Sendelbach and the restoration of stable leadership, unless documented facts and due process clearly support a different outcome.”
The full petition can be viewed here and the GoFundMe here.
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