MN Chief Fired over 'Angry Outbursts'

March 1, 2019
Falcon Heights Fire Chief Rich Hinrichs was let go over violating "the policies of the city … specifically our policy related to having a respectful workplace," according to the mayor.

The Falcon Heights City Council on Wednesday terminated Fire Chief Rich Hinrichs, citing his angry outbursts and disrespectful language.

Hinrichs’ firing was effective immediately, with City Administrator Sack Thongvanh asking him to turn over his keys to the firehouse. The five-member council voted unanimously to terminate the chief, a St. Paul firefighter who worked for Falcon Heights on a paid, on-call basis.

Hinrichs “has consistently violated the policies of the city of Falcon Heights, specifically our policy related to having a respectful workplace,” Mayor Peter Lindstrom said. “There have been interactions with employees from various departments where disrespectful language has been used and angry outbursts have been demonstrated.”

Hinrichs also “conveyed information” to state agencies and other local governments that violated city policy, the mayor said without further elaboration.

Hinrichs, who had served as fire chief since 2015, did not address the council. But several members of the fire department spoke in his defense, praising his leadership, dedication to the job and technical skills.

Falcon Heights Assistant Fire Chief Anton Fehrenbach said he was saddened to see Hinrichs go. “This is not good for the city of Falcon Heights,” he said.

Fehrenbach also challenged the City Council’s assessment of Hinrichs’s temperament.

“We deal with emergencies. We deal with life and death all the time,” he said. “We handle ourselves a little bit differently. This job is tough on us.”

“I don’t think this was an open process,” said Falcon Heights Fire Capt. Michael Kruse. “No one in the city knows this is happening except people in this room. This move seriously jeopardizes the safety of this community.”

Hinrichs, who received a $1,000 monthly stipend for serving as chief, could not be reached for comment Friday. He had served with the Falcon Heights fire department on and off since 2000, according to city records.

The department, with one firehouse and a $185,000 annual operating budget, has no full-time staff. According to the department’s 2017 annual report, Falcon Heights firefighters responded to 119 calls including 20 fires, 23 hazardous conditions and 11 rescue or emergency medical situations.

Falcon Heights, population 5,600, is just 2.3 square miles on St. Paul’s north border and is best known as home of the Minnesota State Fair.

Thongvanh said the assistant fire chief and fire captains will take over the chief’s duties.

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©2019 the Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

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