SALT LAKE CITY — Karl Lieb, a 21-year veteran of the Salt Lake City Fire Department, was announced as the agency's new chief Monday.
Lieb has been overseeing the department on an interim basis since October, when Chief Brian Dale retired. Mayor Jackie Biskupski announced Lieb's promotion, which "is subject to the advice and consent of the City Council," according to a statement from her office.
"I’m confident that Chief Lieb’s extensive record of service and leadership has prepared him to lead our fire department into the future,” Biskupski said in a statement. “He is committed to the safety of all who live and work in Salt Lake City, as well as to those who put their lives on the line each day as firefighters."
In his 21 years with Salt Lake fire, Lieb has also served as hazardous materials technician, station captain, battalion chief and deputy chief. He helped design the curriculum of Camp Athena, a one-day educational fire camp for young women, according to the mayor's office.
“As Salt Lake City grows, I want us to evolve deeper as a service organization, beyond the view of us just shooting water out of a hose,” Lieb said in a statement. “With increased community outreach, teachings and trainings, I’m committed to diversifying our workforce to represent the communities we serve.”
Lieb's appointment comes on the heels of a lawsuit filed in early November by Salt Lake Fire Capt. Martha Ellis that names him, Dale, Biskupski and Assistant Fire Chief Rusty McMicken as defendants. In the lawsuit, Ellis claims she was demoted from division chief to captain in an act of retaliation after reporting payroll fraud and abuse of city time by the department's top leaders.
Ellis also filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in November 2014, according to her attorney, Jaqualin Peterson, alleging "a culture and a bias that is demeaning toward women" at the fire department. Lieb is also named in that complaint.
Ellis referred all comment Monday to Peterson. The attorney said she's "disappointed" with Lieb's appointment.
"My understanding is the city did a nationwide search, and the best they can do is appoint one of three chiefs (who) is a subject of litigation we have pending," Peterson said.
The hire is an indication that Biskupski and other city officials are not taking Ellis' claims "seriously at all," Peterson said.
A fire department spokesman put his support behind Lieb on Monday.
"The Salt Lake City Fire Department has complete confidence in the mayor's selection, and we're excited to move forward," Salt Lake Fire Capt. Davin Halvorsen said when asked about the ongoing lawsuit. "Because that's ongoing, of course, we have no comment on the litigation."
Holly Mullen, spokeswoman for Biskupksi's office, also asserted the city's faith in Lieb.
"The mayor feels fully confident that Chief Lieb will do an excellent job leading our fire department," Mullen said when contacted about the lawsuit, though she declined to comment on the litigation itself. "He rose above many, many candidates coming from throughout the country to be selected for the position."
Lieb, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, will oversee 14 fire stations and more than 300 employees. His education includes a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota, a master's degree in public administration from the University of Utah, and certification as an executive fire officer from the National Fire Academy.