Duluth Fire Chief Placed on Paid Administrative Leave After DWI-Related Arrest
Dennis Edwards was placed on leave March 31, 2019.
DULUTH, Minn.- Duluth fire chief Dennis Edwards was put on paid administrative leave Sunday.
The St. Louis county jail confirms Edwards was arrested on suspicion of 3rd degree driving while under the influence. The city confirms his leave is related to that incident.
No formal charges have been filed by the St. Louis county attorney’s office.
Fire chief Dennis Edwards has had a long career with the Duluth fire department. He was in the department for 20 years before being appointed as fire chief in 2016 by mayor Emily Larson.
Duluth chief administrative officer Noah Schuchman released the following statement regarding Edwards’ leave:
“I am aware of an incident involving chief Edwards. The city of Duluth takes these things very seriously. Effective Sunday, March 31st, chief Edwards was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Deputy chief Shawn Krizaj will serve as acting chief until further notice. Because this is a personnel matter, the city of Duluth will have no further comments at this time.”
Outside of this investigation, Edwards and his deputy chief became news in the Fall 2018 when the firefighters union Local 101 formally voted to censure Edwards for allegedly violating the collective bargaining agreement and creating a divisive work environment among his team.
Fox 21 reached out to Edwards and the fire union’s president who both referred any questions to the mayor’s office.
