Peekskill Fire Chief Resigns Over Nepotism Concerns

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- The chief of the Peekskill Volunteer Fire Department resigned Thursday over claims of nepotism, according to multiple sources.

Peekskill Fire Chief Vinny Malaspina announced he would retire to enable his son, Brian Malaspina, to take a job with the Peekskill Fire Department.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

K Reakes

02/24/2017 4:45 p.m.

The resignation of Chief Vincent Malaspina came during a meeting of the department's trustees. Malaspina said his last day would be March 5 after receiving pressure from City Hall, according to the Peekskill Post.

The reason? Because his son Brian Malaspina is getting ready to take a paid position as a firefighter with the City of Peekskill, the city's nepotism policy require that he step down, said the Post.

Deputy Chief John Pappas disagrees with the way the policy is being interpreted, saying that the chief is a volunteer, not paid, so the policy does not apply to him, added the Post.

Malaspina, who said that although he was disappointed, he didn't want to stand in the way of his son's career, said the Post.

Pappas said he and others planned to attend Mondy night's council meeting to demand they amend the policy, reported the Peekskill Post.

Currently, the department has 24 paid firefighters and more than 100 volunteer firefighters.

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