Less than a week after being hired to head the Sparks Fire Department, Mark Lawson has resigned.
His departure came after city officials learned that 'serious criminal charges' are about to be filed against him, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal.
“I am here with terrible bad horrible news,” said city manager Neil Krutz in a video message to Sparks Fire Department employees Monday.
The nature of the charges have not been released.
Krutz said after spending time with Lawson last week discussing the future of the fire department, he was looking forward to working with him. However, when the information surfaced, he felt it was best to part ways.
Lawson was a former assistant chief/division chief of operations for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit. He was chosen from among six finalists who were part of a national process that involved the search services of Ralph Andersen & Associates of Rocklin, California.
Until a new chief is selected, two division chiefs will share command.
