Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Omaha Fire Chief retires, effective immediately

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha's fire chief has agreed to retire under a deal with the mayor that ends a long dispute between the two officials.

Mayor Jean Stothert's office announced Monday that Chief Mike McDonnell agreed to leave his job immediately.

He'll be placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday and allowed to retire with credit for 25 years employment. That's a little more than a year more than his actual service.

Battalion Chief Bernard Kanger will serve as interim chief.

The chief's departure comes amid a dispute between Stothert and McDonnell since her May election. Stothert has demanded that the city reduce the fire department budget.

The mayor agreed to retain three assistant fire chief through the end of 2014 and not to lay off firefighters until at least July 1, 2014.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.