The New Haven County Fire Department had numerous members come forward to the County Executive in a letter. Some of the primary active leaders and public servants in this department feel as if their voices are unheard and undervalued. The letter exclaimed, “We firmly believe that the failures of Fire Chief Chelmski in executing the duties of his position and office, as well as his negligence to the department, have failed our firefighters and the citizens that we swore to serve. While you may take into consideration his personal real life issues, it still does not excuse him for over six months of mismanaged command. It is important to also note that while he claims he has personal real-life issues and extenuating circumstances that require breaks, he still manages to put more time and effort into the New Haven County Sheriff’s Office and intervene in fire calls; serving more as a burden than a relief, than assisting fire department operations as his job entails as County Fire Chief. He has made questionable staffing choices that involve nepotism in some cases, as well as made questionable attempts to remove the most active component of this fire department fueled by retaliation.”
The letter in overall summary, The county board has given Fire Chief Chelmski 24 hours to address an audit’s findings and provide a plan to fix issues within the department. Members of the department feel unheard and undervalued. They stress that the department was meant to serve the community and foster a positive experience for fire service enthusiasts within a video game community, but it has strayed from these ideals.
Chief Chelmski’s failure to address departmental issues over six months, his focus on other responsibilities like the Sheriff’s Office, nepotism in staffing, and retaliatory actions against active members are cited as significant problems. The audit uncovered corruption, policy inadequacies, inactivity among leaders and firefighters, and leadership failures.
While multiple factors contributed to the department’s failures, Chelmski shoulders the ultimate responsibility for neglecting concerns raised by the command and workers during his tenure. The leadership’s priorities of personal gain over departmental needs have eroded trust. There’s fear of retaliation for speaking up, as Chelmski has a history of making baseless decisions and belittling subordinates.
The department urges the board to consider the audit’s findings and the dissatisfaction among firefighters and to follow the County Executive’s recommendations. They assert that there are qualified candidates ready to step in, passionate about the department’s values and respected by both the team and the community they serve.
The letter was sent out and signed by cwhitman2007, Bozzagga, ArvadaTheRescueTech, ArthurCrusoe, 2024firefighter, Combatrole, LiamActual, Frostythesnow101, cxrsonie, Derogatoryyy, CaptainIIFergie, TrulyIce.
These Fire Department members expressed their belief of what should happen, “It is our belief that Fire Chief Chelmski should be removed from his position as County Fire Chief and County Fire Marshal effective immediately due to his failures to carry out the duties of his position and mislead the public trust in this department by utilizing his office to cover up instances of crime and corruption at the highest levels, in addition to failing as a leader. We believe that such decisive action is necessary to restore the integrity of the department and rebuild the trust of both our members and the broader community we serve. If he is removed, the high-ranking signatories would be more than enthralled to come up with a plan and course of action on how to correct the department. We believe that with the right leadership, the New Haven County Fire Department can return to its roots as a vibrant and purposeful community dedicated to serving the people and fostering a positive experience for all involved.”
MPBS has reached out to these members for individual comment.
Bozzagga replied to the request saying, “The fire chief has been given numerous chances to fix the department and regain activity. He has not. Myself and several other members of the department, who swore to serve the community hit a breaking point. This letter is our last ditch effort to get change to follow, otherwise we will all be resigning in mass. These people are quite literally the backbone of the department, and the fire department would go severely downhill from there if we resigned, thus forcing the county board/executive to do something. We’re tired of not having our voices be heard, and it’s time we change that. One way or another.”
ArthurCrusoe said “Justice has been served”
2024firefighter replied, “I do firefighting In real life and in many communities’ I have been in positions of command in other groups and worked under countless good leaders both in real life and in games and I can say that the Citizens of New Haven County and Employees of the New Haven County Fire Department need good leadership for the department to do better, the training of Cadets has been really lacking during the chiefs employment and standard’s have been lowered I feel like. I think this department needs help when it comes training and overall the Fire department needs better command within their chief officers.”
LiamActual replied, “I believe the Fire Chief did do good mostly, but was often inactive and was rarely online. For the time he was online he was doing Sheriff jobs instead of caring about the Department. I am glad that he did get removed & hope we get a better Chief.”
Dreogatoryyy said, “I dont have anything to say about it other than what you can obviously see”
Frostythesnow101 said that he does not feel comfortable commenting on the situation within the Fire Department at this time.
Individuals that are not listed that signed the letter did not have a comment or did not reply to our request for a comment in time.
As a result of this letter and many open-door complaints, the County Executive officially announced a department-wide audit. “Following a series of complaints by members of the New Haven County Fire Department, I have chosen to launch a department wide audit. A report on the findings, recommendations, and actions as a result of this audit will be shared with the public.”
The audit was released days after the announcement.
The Fire Operations Division is responsible for the general day-to-day operations and it is divided into two shifts. Alpha shift and Bravo shift. At the time of audit, then Lieutenant zombielandrock was in charge of the Alpha shift. Then Lieutenant ArthurCruose managed Bravo Shift. The County Executive said in his report, that zombielandrock “be demoted for his inability to properly manage shift bravo. After discussions with his captain and other members of the fire operations command a common theme was his unwillingness to host shifts, submit shift reports on time, and general inability to maintain activity.” Shift Broavo Lieutenant ArturCruose which according to the audit, has real-life commitments as a Lieutenant for his local fire service, “He has provided no reason as to why he’s been unable to properly manage shift bravo.”
The Special Operations Division of the New Haven County Fire Department is responsible for certifying firefighters in special firefighting-related competency and conducting special operations. This Divison of the Fire Department “is not training nor certifying firefighters to perform special operations while also failing to maintain or enforce certain activity requirements.”
The County Executive has made a recommendation that the “Specialized Training Unit” be dissolved and the duties of issuing certifications be put under the regular Training Division. Those employees within the dissolved unit will be transferred out into the general area of the Special Operations Division.
The Employee Affairs Division is the Internal Affairs Unit within the New Haven County Fire Department.
The County Executive has came to a conclusion on the Employee Affairs Unit, “it has been determined that department’s high command has played a significant role in influencing, interfering, and manipulating investigations of select firefighters. Specific members of department high command have been identified as directly contacting complainants who filed complaints against them, threatening them and attempting to persuade them to drop their complaints. This undermines the integrity and credibility of the Employee Affairs Division. In addition to general interference, many investigations conducted by the department’s high command are not properly documented or recorded. ” The County executive’s recommendation on this particular division, “a new department policy is developed to address when department high command members may take investigations and implement disciplinary procedures for improper handling, and filing of investigation materials.”
The Public Relations Division of the New Haven County Fire Department has a bit more positive rating from the County Executive, with a few things that can be tweaked, “the Public Relations Division is performing well in hosting engaging events, releasing newsletters and engaging with the public. There could be more activity in the division itself to help release more materials. In addition, multiple individuals have submitted complaints that the Public Relations Division does not comply with staffing rules, disrupts scenes, and attempts to take scene command.” The County executive advises that “Public Relations Division revise their policies to ensure that while they are conducting Public Information Officer duties that they do not disrupt scenes and develop a new staffing policy for members of the Public Relations Division.”
The Medical Operations Divison of the New Haven County Fire Department is responsible for EMS operations within the New Haven County Fire Department. County Executive said in his audit of this division, “it has been determined that the Medical Operations Division has fallen into a serious state of disrepair. The division has few active members, an inactive command and general low morale. Due to the failure of the Medical Training Unit to properly issue members of the Fire Department EMT-P certifications there is a shortage of staff capable of performing the duties of the Medical Operations Division. In addition to the divisions lacking a Captain which has led to the division lacking any general direction and no member of department high command has filled the position nor acted in the absence thereof a Captain.”
His recommendation, “Medical Operations Division be placed under the responsibility of the County Medical Office following sufficient reforms. It is also my recommendation that the current command of the Medical Operations Division be demoted from their positions immediately due to their inability to maintain the division, leaving it in the state it is in. Finally it is my recommendation that Sergeant ArvadaTheRescueTech take over as Captain of the Medical Operations Division.”
The Training Division and County Fire Marshal’s Office did not have any review placed on them because both units are actively going under reforms.
For the Training Division, the recommendation is that “the training division assumes the duties of the “Medical Training Unit” and “Specialized Training Unit.””
The Fire Marshals Office is inactive, but the County Executive believes this is in part due to the lack of arson cases being reported and lack of responsibilities provided to the office. Positively, he thinks it is functioning as best as it can provided the circumstances.
Regarding the leadership, it’s concluded that the Fire Department’s leadership, specifically the Fire Chief, is inadequate. The Chief’s inconsistent activity level and tendency to delegate without guidance have led to chaos within the department. Reforms initiated without clear direction resulted in catastrophic failures and the dissolution of multiple key divisions. The Chief’s focus on other departments and interference during shifts has disrupted operations and endangered lives. Additionally, there’s a significant disconnect between the Chief and the department’s membership, leading to a loss of faith in his leadership among senior members and command staff. Ultimately, the state of the department is attributed directly to the Fire Chief’s poor judgment and failure to oversee, direct, and coordinate operations effectively, according to the County Executive.
MPBS reached out to the Fire Chief for comment and gave him 24 hours to do so, but we did not receive a reply.
MPBS reached out to the county executive for comment on this matter.
MPBS asked the county executive who made all these unnecessary divisions within the fire Department, “Fire Chief Chelmski created the Human Resources Division, Specialized Training Unit and Medical Training Unit. The Human Resources Division handles menial tasks such as managing documents/databases, issuing awards and conducting small moderation duties. These duties are already performed by department leaders. The Specialized and Medical Training Units ultimately added to the issue of individuals not obtaining Special Operations and Medical Training. Where this really was impactful was that it led to a decline in individuals who were capable of being full time paramedics in the Medical Operations Division.”
MPBS asked about State Government assistance on this matter and asked if there was any Department of Justice involvement. “During the audit I reached out to Governor Arvantise on multiple occasions for consultation. I have not submitted my findings to the Department of Justice.”
MPBS asked the County Executive why he felt that he needed to conduct an audit, “In mid December I identified multiple issues with the County Medical Office which regulates the medical practice within the Fire Department and the County. Following these issues being identified in late December I was contacted by multiple senior members of the Fire Department regarding their discontent with the Fire Chief and how he led the department. Upon the start of the audit I was contacted about issues regarding Fire Chief Chelmski, the Medical Operations Division, Public Relations, Fire Operations, the Special Operations Division, the Fire Marshal’s Office and the Training Division. Ultimately this escalated the audit process and required a more rigorous process to determine the state of the Fire Department.
Without the vast majority of the active members of the Fire Department contacting me regarding the issues within the department the audit wouldn’t have happened. The deep divides within the department and the internal conflict drove me to identify what was wrong with the department and how it could best be handled.”
Following the audit, Fire Chief chelmski presented his “plans” for the New Haven County Fire Department in a letter.
In summary, the chief says, The New Haven County Fire Department acknowledges its operational faults and outlines plans for the near future. Shift Bravo, identified as inactive, will see the promotion of its Sergeant to Lieutenant to bring order, while the current Lieutenant will be removed. Employee Affairs will introduce new policies to limit higher-ranking involvement in cases. Efforts are focused on reviving the struggling Medical Operations Division with a new Captain, aiming for a revival similar to the division’s previous success. The Special Operations Division undergoes reforms, consolidating units for increased in-game focus and planning expansions in the future. While high-performing units remain untouched for now, changes will be considered after addressing critical issues. The department seeks support from the County Board, emphasizing open communication for effective problem-solving. They assure that core aspects will be addressed, and they welcome feedback for continuous improvement. The department aims to fix core issues and requests support and communication from the Board to maintain the department’s integrity. Plans for broader improvements will come once core issues are resolved.
The County Executive has since removed the Fire Chief from office and has placed cwhitman2007 as acting Fire Chief.
The former Fire Chief has provided a response to his removal, which is the only communication MPBS has received from Chelmski.
Chelmski said “Over the course of my tenure as Chief, I have faced a challenging situation characterized by a corrupt audit conducted by the County Executive. Unfortunately, this audit was not conducted with the intent to provide constructive feedback or information to improve the department. Instead, it seemed to serve as a pretext for the County Executive’s efforts to remove me from my position.”
He claims that “attempts to engage in meaningful communication with the County Executive have proven futile. The focus has consistently been on my removal and the promotion of individuals seemingly based on personal affiliations rather than merit within our dedicated group.”, “During a group chat discussion, the County Executive attempted to override discussions about crucial plans for the department.”
Chelmski also provided a reason why he was inactive, “my response may have come off as unwilling or uncooperative, but the truth is, I was preoccupied with a personal emergency. A loved one was experiencing severe health issues, requiring immediate attention and a visit to the hospital. Despite these circumstances, the County Executive seemed more focused on inconsequential matters, showing a lack of empathy and understanding for the situation at hand.”
In summary for the remainder of the letter, Chelmski goes on and points out that after being removed from my position following the audit, it became clear that manipulative tactics and a lack of genuine consideration accompanied the process. Messages from the County Executive misled me into believing the County Board unanimously decided my removal, which turned out to be false upon further investigation. This raised serious concerns about transparency and ethics within the decision-making process. When presenting comprehensive plans to address audit issues, the County Executive hastily dismissed them as “unacceptable,” suggesting a biased and closed-minded approach, undermining collaborative problem-solving and confidence in the process. The removal impacted my reputation and highlighted concerns about fair communication, transparency, and ethics in leadership. There’s a need to communicate these details to the public, shedding light on manipulative tactics and disregard for due process. Recent findings suggest the County Executive is orchestrating a network of influence to fill the vacant position. Individuals who advocated for my removal are now considered for leadership, hinting at a biased selection process due to personal connections with the County Executive. This hidden alliance raises suspicion about impartiality and fairness in the leadership transition, intensifying concerns about motives and transparency within the County Board.“
He also expresses his gratitude during the time of service; “I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and commitment to the fire department. It has been an honor serving as your Chief, and I believe in the resilience and strength of this department. I hope that, in time, the necessary changes will be made to ensure the prosperity of the fire department and the well-being of its members.”
Chelmski provides a background when he was chief; “I have achieved a lot of great things from starting out in the Special Operations Division and rising through there to becoming Support Deputy Chief where I spent my time until July 4th, 2023, where I was officially made Chief.”
He goes on and provides tributes to individuals that he worked within the department.
There is exhibits at the bottom of this letter, with proof of his claims that the County Board did not come to a “unanimous decision”
The last picture is MPBS trying to contact him, saying, “Proof the County Excecutive tried to use the State Media to support my removal” when MPBS gave him all the fair opportunity to provide a comment on his behalf and gave him 24 hours to do so.
MPBS requested comment from several members of the Fire Department on this matter, including the Former Fire Chief MessageGaming.
Former Fire Chief MessageGaming replied with a statement saying, “During my term within the Fire Department, I would say the county board isn’t very communicative.They would make decisions, expecally without meetings. I do not feel I am in the place to make an assumption who did what, however it is quite obvious that this situation could of been handled by the country board better, communication wise. I wish chelmski the best of luck in his future endeavors. ”
Ryanonthewebs, Chairman of the New Haven Firefighters union replied on behalf of the union, “We are glad that after working diligently with members of the community & County Board the absent minded Fire Chief no longer holds reigns over the department. We are disappointed that the County Executive has not taken steps to nominate a new Fire Chief as yet. We look forward to working with the new Fire Chief however to hopefully strengthen our department.”
MPBS will continue to follow this story.
Amazing article
Indeed