Chief Laskowski became chief of the Derby Fire Department in 2019.
DERBY — Fire Department Chief Robert Laskowski has resigned his position as of June 17, according to an announcement June 18 from Derby Mayor Rich Dziekan’s office.
Laskowski was subject to a disciplinary hearing in front of Derby Fire Commissioner Gary Parker for a comment the chief made on his personal Facebook page June 1.
Laskowski, while listening to police clash with protesters on a live New York City emergency radio scanner, commented that “a few Blackhawks with snipers” could solve the problem. The chief told The Valley Indy he was saying the situation in the city was out of control, not that he wanted people to be shot.
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Dziekan issued a statement condemning the chief.
The hearing in front of Parker will not take place because Laskowski resigned from the fire department as a whole, according to a statement from Dziekan.
“As a current member in good standing of the Derby Fire Department, I have enjoyed an exceptional career and loved serving the citizens of Derby as well as working with the men and women of this great agency,” Laskowski said in his resignation letter, dated June 17.
“As Chief of the Department, I am proud to have led exceptional firefighters and consider it a great honor to have done so. With a heavy heart, but with the fondest of memories, I resign from the Department effective immediately,” he said.
Assistant Fire Chiefs David Lenart, Michael Gloade and Thomas Biggs are running the department, according to the mayor’s office.
