La Grange EMS Official Ousted In Another Town: Records

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – The Clarendon Hills Fire Department fired its EMS official last month, with the chief alleging violations of policies, newly obtained records show.

The emergency medical services coordinator was John McReynolds. He still holds the same position in La Grange.

Through a public records request, Patch received documents related to McReynolds' ouster.

In an Oct. 15 letter, Clarendon Hills Fire Chief Dave Godek notified McReynolds of his immediate termination.

Godek accused McReynolds of trying to circumvent the lieutenant testing process by offering to switch his role as EMS coordinator for another employee's lieutenant promotion.

The other employee was higher on the lieutenant promotion list than McReynolds, who could not be promoted unless his co-worker accepted the offer, Godek said.

"This behavior is unethical, usurps the process and the authority of Department leadership," Godek said in the letter. "Your role as EMS Coordinator is not yours to offer to another employee for something in return, such as a Lieutenant promotion."

Godek also said McReynolds disparaged the village and the department's leadership by criticizing the lieutenant process to his co-workers. The process is run by a third party, the chief said.

McReynolds, Godek said, committed insubordination by failing to follow the chain of command in a paramilitary organization that relies on a structured hierarchy and an emphasis on discipline.

"Your actions can also be construed as intimidation," the chief said.

He said McReynolds could no longer be trusted.

In response to a Patch inquiry Wednesday, McReynolds, who worked for the department for more than a dozen years, said the situation was "a lot of smoke and mirrors."

"The picture is so much larger than you know. Things aren't always what they appear," he said in an email. "I don't see why this is such a 'newsworthy' story. Unless you're being fed misinformation by someone. As it turns out, our parting of ways was beneficial for both."

In the letter, Godek asked McReynolds to return all his village-owned equipment to the local police station within a week.

On Sept. 29, Godek put McReynolds on leave. The chief informed fire department members a couple of days later.

"Please do not text or call him," the chief said in an email.

Last December, Fire Chief Michael Korzen resigned after just four months in the top job, citing family health reasons.

Korzen, who had worked in the department years earlier, replaced Chief Brian Leahy, who served in the top job for nearly 40 years. Leahy was put on leave in November 2023 and resigned under the terms of a severance deal months later.

The department has seen many departures in recent years.