Ellendale terminates firefighter for conduct

A volunteer firefighter has been terminated from service after city officials uncovered what they considered to be unprofessional conduct mostly off duty.
Ellendale city officials confirmed last week they have parted ways with Jack Skalicky, who had been a firefighter for about five years. The action was taken during a closed city council meeting on April 8.
In a statement about the termination, the city said: “The City Council and Fire Department have dismissed a firefighter, due to conduct that was determined not to be ethical and professional. The City Council and Fire Department do not condone this behavior. We want to make it clear to the public, of our commitment to serve you with the highest standards and ethics expected from our department.”
Skalicky, 23, was charged in January 2019 in Waseca County District Court with felony stalking, second or subsequent violation within 10 years. According to court records, he was accused of harassing a girlfriend by reaching out to a friend of hers trying to obtain information about her. He allegedly broke up with the girlfriend in the spring of 2018, but sent Facebook messages to the victim’s friend. The victim notified police of Skalicky’s “stalking tendencies,” court documents said.
In May 2019, Skalicky entered a guilty plea and was later sentenced by Judge Carol Hanks. As part of the sentence, Skalicky received 30 days in the county jail, 30 days of work release and a $375 fine. The judge ordered Skalicky to refrain from threats of violence, not to use alcohol or drugs, to submit to random testing, to have no contact with the victim, to maintain employment, to receive cognitive skill training, to follow all laws, to provide a DNA sample when directed and not to use or possess firearms. He also cannot vote until discharged from probation.
He previously had been convicted of a gross misdemeanor count of stalking in August 2018, which triggered the most recent incident to be charged as a felony.
Successful completion of probation will result in the felony being reduced to a misdemeanor.
Ellendale firefighters are strictly volunteer and do not receive any compensation for their services from the city. However, they receive benefits from the Fire Relief Association upon retirement, according to Steve Engel, deputy clerk for Ellendale. Engel did not know how much someone with only a few years of service would be entitled to, though he said it wouldn’t be much.
Engel said this particular incident will likely force the city to update its policies regarding behavior of employees. Though firefighters are volunteers, they are considered city employees for worker’s compensation, he said.
The Times was unable to reach Skalicky for comment.