Elmhurst Chief Who Suddenly Left Gets New Job

ELMHURST, IL – Former Elmhurst Fire Chief Bill Anaszewicz, who left suddenly in early April, is taking the helm as fire chief in Carpentersville. He starts Monday.

Anaszewicz was only chief for six months when he submitted his resignation letter April 4, saying he was retiring effective immediately and that he was dealing with "family medical issues."

In a news release five days later, the city did not say Anaszewicz was retiring, but rather that he was resigning after finding a new employment opportunity.

At 37,000, Carpentersville, which is in suburban Kane County, has about 8,000 fewer people than Elmhurst.

Anaszewicz and city officials never explained the chief's quick departure.

In a statement to the Carpentersville Fire Department, interim Fire Chief Rick Nieves called Anaszewicz a "bright and experienced firefighter and leader."

Anaszewicz has 29 years of experience as a firefighter, 26 of them in Elmhurst.

Last October, Anaszewicz was appointed as the chief after serving as interim chief for a year and a half.

Battalion Chief Richard Dufort, a 30-year veteran of the Elmhurst department, was named as fire chief after Anaszewizc left. The council is set to vote on Dufort's appointment Monday.