PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill. – The Peoria Heights Village Board has parted ways with Fire Chief Dan Decker.
The board, during a special meeting Saturday, voted not to renew Decker’s contract. Decker had been Peoria Heights Fire Chief since November 2023.
One trustee provided a litany of complaints about Decker’s leadership. Those complaints included insufficient funds for training, including for most basic medical and fire certifications. Complaints also centered on one of the village’s fire engines having a pump that fails to meet certification standards and “multiple” fire fighters not registered with the state fire marshal.
Additionally, Trustee Nathan Steinwedel said Decker failed to report a workers’ compensation claim for a firefighter injured on the job.
“They should not hear from another firefighter the workman’s comp claim was never reported and I’ve recently been informed of,” Steinwedel said. “That’s unacceptable and not how we take care of our heroes.”
25 News reports several current and former Peoria Heights firefighters spoke in favor of Decker, including retired Fire Chief Greg Walters, who claimed the department is much better shape since Decker’s hiring.
Decker did not attend the meeting, saying he received only 24 hours notice and had a prior commitment.
Decker did send an email to Mayor Matthew Wigginton which was read into the record by the mayor.
Decker claimed in the email he had never received complaints about how he ran the fire department, but did admit there were problems.
“Since coming to Peoria Heights,” Wigginton read from the email, “I have been handcuffed, often learning that information was whispered to board members from disgruntled and former firefighters to stop the progress of the department.”
Decker’s annual salary was $125,000. He continues to serve as an elected member of the East Peoria City Council.
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