Elmhurst Fire Chief Recommended To Council

ELMHURST, IL – After a year and a half as Elmhurst's acting fire chief, Bill Anaszewicz is poised to get the permanent job.

In May 2021, Anaszewicz was appointed acting chief upon the retirement of Fire Chief Tom Freeman.

In a news release Monday, City Manager Jim Grabowski announced that he recommended the City Council approve Anaszewicz as the new fire chief. The council is set to act on the appointment at next Monday's meeting.

This follows last month's change at the police department's helm. Interim Chief Michael McLean was named chief three months after the death of Chief Michael Ruth.

Anaszewicz has 29 years of experience as a firefighter, 26 of them in Elmhurst. He previously worked as a firefighter in suburban Burnham.

Anaszewicz holds a master's degree in public administration from Anna Maria College in Paxton, Massachusetts, and a bachelor's degree in fire science from South Illinois University.

In Elmhurst, he was promoted to lieutenant in 2004, battalion chief in 2010 and then deputy chief in 2012.

Anaszewicz's leadership roles have included strategic planning, budget development, contract negotiations and labor management.

“Bill has been a dedicated leader and valued department expert to the City of Elmhurst,” Grabowski said in the release. “I am confident that as Chief, he will continue to lead our firefighters in providing high quality fire protection and emergency medical treatment services to our community.”