Trustee: Ex-fire chief refused to get certification

An East Dundee Fire Protection District trustee says former fire chief Mark Rakow was placed on administrative leave last month because he refused to obtain certification that is expected of the highest-ranking member of the department.

In a letter to the Daily Herald Friday, Trustee John Bonkoski writes that in late 2008, Rakow was asked to complete certification in the first level of the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Fire Officer Series within 12 months.

He did not, Bonkoski said.

"I have taken an oath of office to do the best I can to assure that this fire district has the highest-quality staff and I am certain no one would want me to neglect this oath for any reason," Bonkoski wrote. "I could be held personally liable for any serious injuries to residents or personnel, knowing that we had someone as chief who did not have fire management certification."

Rakow declined to comment Friday night.

Part one of the Fire Officer series involves understanding areas such as pre-incident planning, building construction and handling hazardous materials. The certificate consists of five 40-hour courses.

But on a number of occasions Rakow backed out of pursuing the courses, without giving a reason, said Bonkoski, who said he and others had assumed Rakow possessed the certifications.

It came to light, Bonkoski said, that Rakow's experience was as a volunteer firefighter.

"We asked him to become certified so he would have the proper credentials as fire chief," Bonkoski said in a phone interview Friday. "We feel the chief should have these certifications for best protecting the villages that we serve."

The fire protection district covers all or portions of East Dundee, South Barrington, Barrington Hills and unincorporated areas in Kane and Cook counties.

Trustee Hank Clemmensen said Rakow holds a Firefighter II level of certification - the minimum requirement for all full-time employees of the fire district.

"As part of the board's policy manual it is a minimum requirement," Bonkoski said. "We asked him to try and get the Fire Officer I certification, but he didn't."

The board placed Rakow on administrative leave on Dec. 18 after 38 years with the department, 23 of which was as chief. Rakow, who was appointed chief after his father, Eugene Rakow, retired in 1986, will remain on administrative leave until his contract expires Dec. 31, 2011.

Assistant Chief Steve Schmitendorf was named acting chief until further notice.

Clemmensen and Bonkoski voted for the removal, while fire district President Mark Guth voted against it.

Rakow joined the fire department in 1971 as firefighter and was promoted to lieutenant in 1980, according to the district's Web site.