This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Another Salt Lake City department head is on his way out.
Fire Chief Brian Dale told Mayor Jackie Biskupski this week that he plans to retire Oct. 1, said city spokesman Matthew Rojas.
Dale will hit his 30-year anniversary of service in October, Rojas said, and will thus be eligible for full retirement. Eight high-level city employees have left or been ousted since Biskupski became mayor in January.
When Biskupski took office, she placed Dale, who had been sworn in as fire chief June 4, 2015, and Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown on interim status for six months, Rojas said, which gave her an opportunity to work with them before deciding whether to keep them in their positions.
The six-month period will end in July, and Biskupski has lifted Brown's interim tag. Dale's letter announcing his retirement was sent as a courtesy to Biskupski, Rojas said, because Dale didn't want the mayor to make a long-term decision without knowing his retirement plans.
Dale's letter stated that he's proud of the department's accomplishments in his time there, Rojas said.
Biskupski replied to Dale's letter, emphasizing her appreciation that he gave enough notice for the city to hire and train a replacement and make a "smoother transition," Rojas said.
Despite some controversy between Biskupski and Dale in the past, Rojas said "none of that has anything to do with Chief Dale's decision."
"It's all about timing," Rojas said.
Salt Lake City Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall said Dale has been "self-reflective in terms of his department." She said he's looked for ways the fire department could make "small and large improvements," specifically citing his work to bring more women into the firefighting force.
She said Dale hired an outreach coordinator and started a day camp for young women in Salt Lake City, where they could experience some firefighter training, meet with female firefighters and "understand that the department takes them seriously as candidates."
She said the same camp will be available for young men in the fall.
"I've been impressed and will be sorry to see him go," Mendenhall said.
Twitter: @mnoblenews