Lincoln Fire Chief Pinder resigning

Situation concerning two firefighters relieved of their duties said to be a factor

LINCOLN — Lincoln Fire Chief Thomas Pinder Jr. has submitted his resignation effective Saturday.

Mayor Doug Hutchens announced Pinder’s resignation at the Nov. 15 City Council meeting. After the meeting, Hutchens said Pinder is resigning for personal reasons and to accept another job offer.

Asked if the situation involving former firefighters Willie Leming and his son, Dakota Leming, was a factor in the resignation, Hutchens responded, “Everything contributes.”

Pinder in May relieved the Lemings of their duties as members of the Fire Department. Willie Leming is the former volunteer fire chief and Dakota Leming had been serving as volunteer assistant fire chief.

They appealed Pinder’s decision to Hutchens, who declined to reinstate them to the Fire Department.

Hutchens said he told Pinder before he started as fire chief in February 2021 that it would be a “tough nut to crack” because it was a new position and the city was going from a volunteer fire chief to a paid, full-time fire chief.

“It’s a new position. It’s a difficult position. It’s an underpaid position and it’s an underfunded position and an overworked position,” Hutchens said. “Coming from the outside in and trying to change the culture from an unpaid volunteer operation to a paid, professional operation, it’s just tough.”

Pinder last week declined to say where he’s going next, but did say he will have a “chief” title at another organization in another state.

The situation with the Lemings had “partially” to do with his decision to resign, Pinder said.

Otherwise, he said he did not want to talk specifically about his reasons for resigning or some of the challenges he’s faced as the new chief, adding he did not want to “air out a lot of dirty laundry.”

“That’s between me and the mayor,” he said. “We’ve had a conversation and that’s the way I want to keep it.”

Pinder listed what he considered accomplishments in the Fire Department since he came on board almost two years ago. These include 42 new airpacks with the assistance of the county, grants to purchase extrication equipment for the city and Cincinnati fire stations, and a U.S. Forestry Service grant for wildland equipment and tools.

Pinder also hired the city’s first full-time firefighter. He said he has worked on improving building and fire codes for the city the past year and worked with the training officer to improve training in the department.

Pinder said he’s loved living in this area.

“I came from the hills of Texas to mountains. We didn’t have trees like this. We had seasons, but not like here. It’s just gorgeous. People here are amazing. I’ve made a lot of friends. I’ve made several enemies too, but I’ve made some good friends and it’s been good.”

Hutchens said he will have to decide how to move forward. The city advertised the fire chief’s position two years ago nationally and received only two qualified candidates.