Antioch Rescue Squad donations create controversy at home
In an article from the Daily Herald, there's a detailed account of how the Antioch Rescue Squad (ARS) made decisions regarding the distribution of its surplus ambulances. Last year, Stone Park Fire Chief Michael Paige was pleasantly surprised when the ARS offered to gift his department a used ambulance fully equipped with medical supplies. This generous offer was part of a larger initiative by the squad to distribute three of its older ambulances to departments outside of its usual coverage area in Antioch and Antioch Township.
However, things took an unexpected turn when the ARS surprisingly declined a similar request from the Antioch Fire Department. Initially, the squad leaders had agreed to the donation in March 2014 but reversed their decision just a month later, forcing the Antioch Fire Department to fork out $69,000 in taxpayer funds to acquire and outfit a new ambulance.
Chief John Nixon of the Antioch Fire Department expressed frustration, pointing out that the ambulances and the essential medical equipment they carried were partly funded by donations from Antioch-area residents and organizations. He argued that these resources should have been prioritized for local rescue services. "We didn’t see one dime from (the ARS), so we had to spend taxpayer money to bring in ambulances and equipment to operate and protect the residents of Antioch and Antioch Township," Nixon stated.
Despite multiple attempts to reach out for clarification, neither Chief Brian DeKind nor President Todd Thommes of the Antioch Rescue Squad responded to interview requests regarding this matter. However, officials from the First Fire Protection District of Antioch speculated that the rejection might stem from tensions between the ARS and the Antioch Fire Department over providing rescue services. When DeKind was approached for a donation, he initially approved it but later rescinded the offer, citing a vote against it by the squad’s membership.
The discord between the Antioch Fire and Rescue teams escalated in 2012 following a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by three female squad members. An ensuing investigation revealed systemic issues within the squad, including patient mistreatment, medication misuse, and inadequate shift scheduling due to excessive drinking. These findings led to further complications, including financial mismanagement and leadership changes. In 2013, the ARS severed ties with the village of Antioch over a contract dispute, prompting the fire department to take over ambulance services in-house.
By May 2014, the squad's contract with the township was not renewed, and the fire protection district opted to consolidate all firefighting and rescue services under one umbrella. With no further use for their surplus vehicles, the ARS donated the ambulances to various institutions, including the Lake County High Schools Technology Campus in Grayslake and the Newport Township Fire Protection District in Wadsworth.
Derrick Burress, the principal of the tech campus, mentioned that the squad offered a used ambulance worth $15,000 for educational purposes. He noted that it has become an invaluable tool for training EMS students in the region, including those from Antioch. Stone Park’s Fire Chief Michael Paige also confirmed receiving a similar ambulance, which, despite having over 100,000 miles on it, was well-stocked with emergency supplies.
Newport Fire District Chief Mark Kirschhoffer accepted another ambulance as a backup unit, emphasizing its potential usefulness should Antioch require additional support. Chief Nixon explained that maintaining four ambulances is necessary to adequately cover Antioch and Antioch Township, with three serving as primary units and one acting as a reserve. To achieve this, the fire department spent approximately $157,000 purchasing and equipping four ambulances in 2013 and 2014. Subtracting donations and insurance funds, the total cost reached $232,000.
Nixon lamented the missed opportunity to save taxpayer money, stating, "Had the ARS donated their ambulances to us, we wouldn’t have needed to spend the money to get the vintage ones up and running." He reiterated that the ARS had the chance to assist locally but chose not to. This situation highlights the complex interplay between community resources, organizational priorities, and the challenges faced in managing public safety services.
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