Elkhorn Fire Chief Findings Leave Discipline to Council, Commission

The City of Elkhorn released investigative findings July 17 concerning Fire Chief Trent Eichmann, leaving city leaders with a central question: whether to pursue disciplinary action and, if so, how.

An outside law firm hired by the city reported substantial evidence of alleged violations involving Elkhorn personnel policies, the city code of ethics, confidentiality, the chain of command and the fire chief’s oath of office. The findings document is not itself a disciplinary order, does not recommend disciplinary charges and does not determine Eichmann’s employment status.

What investigators reported

According to the report and TMJ4 News coverage, investigators examined allegations that Eichmann was dishonest with city leadership, improperly disclosed confidential personnel information, fostered hostility or insubordination within the department and facilitated negative media coverage involving the city and its leadership.

The report also examined Eichmann’s involvement in a meeting with East Troy’s fire chief to explore possible consolidation of the Elkhorn and East Troy fire districts. The investigation characterized that activity as occurring without Elkhorn Common Council approval. The findings do not establish that a consolidation plan was adopted, and no completed consolidation action is reported here.

The report describes alleged conduct and investigative findings; it is not a criminal judgment. The document also did not recommend disciplinary charges. That distinction matters for residents because the next step, if any, must come through Elkhorn’s established government and personnel procedures.

Who could act next

The Common Council and city leadership would decide whether to pursue charges. If disciplinary action is taken, TMJ4 reported that the charges would then go to the Police and Fire Commission for review and action. Elkhorn’s municipal code gives the commission authority related to the fire chief’s appointment and discipline.

As of July 29, no later disciplinary vote or Police and Fire Commission action tied to the July 17 findings was identified in the city records reviewed for this article. That could change with a future agenda, closed-session discussion followed by open-session action, formal charges or a commission proceeding.

Why the dispute matters locally

The issue extends beyond one employment decision. The Elkhorn Fire and EMS Department provides fire and emergency medical services to the City of Elkhorn and the broader Elkhorn-area response district. Leadership decisions therefore affect emergency-service governance across multiple municipal boundaries.

The investigation follows earlier public concerns about staffing, firehouse and equipment conditions, funding and public-safety operations, as reported by TMJ4 News. Those concerns were part of the background to the city’s decision to investigate, but the July report does not resolve the department’s broader staffing, facilities or capital-needs questions.

For residents, the meaningful developments to watch are concrete actions: a Common Council decision on whether to pursue charges, a formal Police and Fire Commission proceeding, or an official decision about Eichmann’s status. Until one of those actions occurs, the July 17 document remains a findings report rather than a final disciplinary decision.

Sources

• TMJ4 News: City releases fire chief investigative findings
• Outside Fire Chief Investigation Report
• Elkhorn Code of Ordinances, Chapter 5.04
• City of Elkhorn Fire and EMS