Riverside Fire Chief terminated
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June 04 11:31:36, 2025
From excerpts on RBLandmark.com:
Last week, Spencer Kimura, the former Chief of the Riverside Fire Department, was quietly let go just prior to the village board's meeting on July 16th. While the village hasn't officially announced his dismissal, local officials confirmed it on Monday after a reporter noticed Kimura's name had disappeared from the village's official website.
Village Manager Jessica Frances, who made the decision to terminate Kimura late in the afternoon on July 16th, remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind his departure. She stated only that it was an internal personnel issue and declined further comment. Village President Ben Sells echoed this stance, emphasizing that the details would remain confidential.
Kimura, who earned an annual salary of $80,371, was initially hired back in 2011 to stabilize the department following a period of instability that culminated in the firing of his predecessor, Kevin Mulligan. Despite being tasked with restoring order, Kimura never fully integrated into the community of Riverside. As a retired battalion chief from Glenview, he was brought in to mend divisions within the department that arose after Mulligan's abrupt exit. Mulligan later settled for $350,000 following a lawsuit against the village and Matthew Buckley, Kimura's deputy.
However, tensions persisted. In 2014, four Riverside firefighters, including three lieutenants, sued the village and Kimura, alleging unfair disciplinary actions tied to their support for Mulligan. This case was ultimately dismissed by a federal judge earlier this year.
In Kimura's place, Matthew Buckley, who currently serves as the deputy police chief in nearby Lyons, has been appointed interim fire chief. Buckley, who works part-time in this role, plans to evaluate the current command structure and determine if adjustments are needed. Traditionally, the fire department has been led by a part-time chief alongside volunteer firefighters. Kimura was reportedly working 32 hours a week.
Frances has yet to initiate a search for a permanent replacement. Originally from the north suburbs, the 57-year-old Kimura struggled to connect with the community in Riverside. Buckley, however, expressed optimism about moving forward. "I'm fostering collaboration among our leadership team to ensure all operations continue smoothly," he noted. "Everyone is aligned in focusing on the future and leaving past issues behind."
As of now, Kimura is not receiving a severance package, and no additional agreements were made. With the village's focus shifting toward the future, the hope is that under Buckley's guidance, the department can rebuild trust and unity.