By SALINA POST
Kevin Royse has resigned as Salina Fire Chief.
Salina City Manager Mike Schrage late this afternoon confirmed that Royse submitted his resignation on Tuesday.
Schrage told Salina Post that the city will immediately begin soliciting applications for fire chief.
On Nov. 9, Natalie Fischer, director of human resources for the City of Salina, sent an email to fire department personnel stating that Royse was placed on administrative leave pending personnel action. That email was leaked to KWCH's Factfinder 12 on Nov. 10.
Factfinder 12 also obtained an email Royse sent to Salina Fire Department personnel on Wednesday. According to a Factfinder 12 report on Thursday, Royse wrote, "I will be tendering my resignation as fire chief effective Sunday, November 21, 2021…I know this department will overcome recent unfortunate events and work through these difficult times only to grow stronger."
In August, Factfinder 12 discovered an investigation by the city into allegations of time fraud within the Salina Fire Department. In response to that report, the City of Salina released a statement acknowledging that it was aware of the allegations made in the KWCH report and that a forensics accounting report about the fire department issue would be released at the Aug. 16 city commission meeting.
That audit of department leave time found that some Chiefs of Staff took time off without applying it to vacation.
READ: Forensic audit of fire department leave time shows misuse
Schrage told Salina Post this afternoon that he intends "to provide a status update to the City Commission regarding the fire department matter at their December 6th meeting."