Brooklyn Park’s fire chief is stepping down from a position he has held since 2008, driven out by what some city leaders have described as a “culture of hostility.”
In a memo sent Thursday to city staffers, City Manager Jay Stroebel cited the “unique dynamic” between Fire Chief Ken Prillaman and some City Council members, and said it would benefit the city’s “overall culture” to accept Prillaman’s resignation at Monday’s council meeting.
“I am not making this recommendation without significant thought,” Stroebel wrote. “Chief Prillaman is well respected in our organization and is the longest tenured member of our department directors’ team.”
If the resignation is accepted, Prillaman’s last day in the office will be Aug. 11, though his resignation won’t be official until Sept. 2. The chief declined to comment ahead of Monday’s meeting.