When Dennis Sargent was asked to resign his post as Salt Lake City's fire chief last August he said he planned to pursue other opportunities in Florida.
The opportunity he was apparently looking for is expected to materialize Wednesday when, pending City Commission approval Tuesday, he is to begin work as the fire chief in the Orlando suburb of Winter Park.Sargent was asked to leave his post in Salt Lake because, according to then-Salt Lake Mayor Palmer DePaulis, there was a "lack of chemistry" between the chief and the department. Also implied in the resignation request was the city and fire department's dissatisfaction with a half-million-dollar platform ladder truck purchased at Sargent's direction.
Winter Park City Manager Tony Barrett said he is aware of conditions that existed during Sargent's 18-month stint as Salt Lake fire chief and believes Sargent was the victim of city politics.