Fire chief put on leave

Dec. 1, 2006

By Michael Rovito

and Mary Ames

Frontiersman

WASILLA - Officials in the Mat-Su Borough aren't letting on as to why Central Mat-Su Fire Chief Jack Krill Jr. is on administrative suspension, citing personnel confidentiality agreements.

Multiple borough officials said they would neither confirm nor deny any allegations against Krill this week, and employees in the Central Mat-Su Fire Station also were quiet on the topic.

&#8220Jack Krill Jr. has been placed on administrative suspension pending the outcome of an internal investigation,” said Dennis Brodigan, the borough's emergency services director.

Brodigan said fire service officers were made aware of Krill's leave Monday evening, and the rest of the employees were told on Tuesday.

The decision to suspend Krill was made by borough manager John Duffy and adheres to standard human resources practices for what Brodigan called a serious allegation.

The investigation is being handled by Patricia Von Ah, the borough's human resource manager, who also declined to comment on the issue.

&#8220Personnel issues are always protected,” Von Ah said.

In a follow-up call seeking examples of reasons a borough employee would be put on administrative leave, Von Ah said the reasons can vary, depending on what the complaint is. She would not elaborate on what sort of complaints could warrant an investigation.

When asked whether results would be made public after the investigation concluded, Von Ah said they would not.

Krill said Tuesday he is hopeful more information will come out soon, but until then, he can't say much about why he was placed on administrative leave. He doesn't agree with the allegations made against him, Krill said.

&#8220It's all work-related,” Krill said. &#8220I've always conducted business looking to do what's right for members of the department and the community. I work for them. That's how I've always done it.”

The borough did not give Krill a timeline, so he has no expectations about when the investigation will be complete. He was scheduled to be Outside for about three weeks on fire department business, but those plans are on hold. Krill intended to go to Oklahoma to

interview candidates for the summer intern positions and then attend a two-week training at National Fire Academy, he said.

Krill still could go on that trip using his own money, Duffy said, adding that the borough would reimburse Krill if he is cleared of any wrongdoing.

Including Explorer Scouts and paid, on-call volunteers, Krill estimated he is responsible for about 175 people as chief.

He's received a lot of calls of support, he said.

&#8220A lot of folks can't speak,” Krill said. &#8220This affects the whole community.”

Michael Keenan, the fire service assistant at the Central Mat-Su Fire Department, has taken over Krill's duties during the investigation. Keenan, like most emergency services employees, was tight-lipped about the situation.

&#8220We've been asked to refer any questions to (human resources),” Keenan said. &#8220They've told us to say it's under investigation.”

When asked whether he had any personal comments in regard to Krill's suspension, Keenan said he did not want to comment.

Still relatively in the dark on the matter, Daniel Tucker, vice chairman of the Wasilla-Lakes Fire Service Area Board, said he has not been made privy to any issues or problems with Krill and was frustrated with the lack of information he is getting from the borough.

Tucker, who was vacationing in Massachusetts Tuesday, said he was shocked when he heard the news about Krill.

&#8220The only thing I've heard was an awareness that, apparently, there was some sort of investigation within the last two weeks or so,” Tucker said.

Also traveling this week, Ken Slauson, chairman of the Wasilla-Lakes Fire Service Board of Supervisors, said in an e-mail message that the board had no part in the suspension and borough officials were not telling the board the reasons for an investigation.

Slauson added that, until the borough briefs the board on the results of Krill's investigation, it will maintain full confidence in the three-year fire chief.

Contact Michael Rovito at 352-2252 or michael.rovito@

frontiersman.com.