THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008
Gould's History With Fire Dept. Goes Way Back
By RICHARD MAYER
Journal Reporter
Who is Prospect Heights Fire Chief Donald Gould, Jr., and why did he hire now former Fire Capt. Paul Elsner if Elsner had previously been allegedly fired from the Prospect Heights Public Works Dept. for sexual harassment?
With the recent publication of exclusive stories in the Journal about Elsner and the fire district, some readers have inquired about Gould's history with the public body.
Elsner was reportedly fired from the Prospect Heights Public Works Dept. in 1999 for violating the city's sexual harassment policy. Not long after Elsner left that job, he was hired as a full-time firefighter with the Prospect Hts. Fire Dist. He had served with the department in a part-time capacity beginning in 1995.
Issues with Elsner came to the forefront last fall when he was issued a ticket on Nov. 2, 2007 for "knowingly giving alcoholic liquor to a person under the age of 21" at a restaurant in Prospect Heights. That citation was dismissed on Feb. 4, 2008 at the request of a city-hired attorney.
The Board of Commissioners of the Prospect Heights Fire Protection Dist. ruled in April that Elsner did not supply alcohol to a minor, but found him guilty of misrepresenting himself on his application by not stating that he had been fired from his public works job.
Gould testified in April that Elsner was a "competent firefighter and paramedic and exhibited good conduct." However, Gould was asking for Elsner to be terminated because Elsner allegedly lied on his application.
If Gould knew about Elsner allegedly falsifying information on his application, why was he hired?
Gould admitted under oath at the same April hearing that he was aware that Elsner was fired from the city, but was unaware of the details as to why.
According to a mid-February article in the Journal, Gould was quoted saying, "The first time I heard about this was at the recent hearing," referring to a January fire district board meeting.
Gould testified in April that former Mayor Ed Rotchford told Gould to fire Elsner shortly after Elsner was hired full-time. Gould admitted that he did not act on that request. In the same mid-February article, Gould said he was unaware that Elsner had been terminated from his city job until just recently (January).
Gould was cited as saying a background check was conducted on Elsner prior to his full-time employment with the Fire District, but he said he never received any information from the City of Prospect Heights about the sexual harassment charge.
"I was very surprised when I learned of this information," said Gould in February.
Gould started with the Prospect Heights Fire Protection District as a Fire Cadet on Jan. 1, 1967. A little over 21 years later, he was promoted to part-time fire chief on Oct. 1, 1988. On May 1, 2000, Gould became the first full-time employee (chief) of the fire district.
Over the last 10 years, Gould's salary has increased from $36,504 to $121,159. In 1998 as a part-time chief, Gould made $36,504; in 1999, $37,857; in 2000 as full-time chief, his salary increased to $67,812; in 2001, $88,387; 2002, $91,406; 2003, $93,979; 2004; $96,787; 2005, $100,663; 2006, $105,614; 2007, $112,923; and in 2008, $121,159.
The name Gould has been a mainstay at the fire district for decades.
In 1969, Donald Gould, Sr. was appointed fire chief when Bill Andrew retired and moved from the area. Gould, Sr. served until 1988, until his son, the current chief, took over.