The Hammond Fire Department on Thursday announced a replacement for Assistant Chief Scott Rakos, who will take office in January as the 6th District representative to the Hammond City Council.
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Rakos, who won election to the council for the first time earlier this month, and several other Lake County politicians, including Hammond City Council President Michael Opinker, are suing the state over a law that prohibits elected officials from working for the cities and towns they represent. Several of the plaintiffs have said they would have to make a choice between their job and elected position Jan. 1, but Rakos already made that choice when he announced he would retire from the fire department.
A judge next week will hear oral arguments on a motion for summary judgment in the case, although it’s not clear if a ruling will come before Jan. 1.
It was not clear Thursday when his retirement becomes effective. Rakos could not be reached for comment.
The city announced Thursday that Battalion Chief Jack Callahan will replace Rakos as assistant chief. Callahan has served in the department for 27 years and has worked as an emergency medical technician, fire apparatus engineer and captain.
The city also announced several other personnel changes for the Fire Department. Chris Trtan will replace Dave Zuffa as another battalion chief. Zuffa is retiring by the end of the year after working for the department for 24 years. Trtan, who grew up in Hammond and graduated from Gavit High School, has worked for the department for 23 years.
The department will get another new battalion chief in Chris Walsh, who has worked for the department since 1994. Walsh, who also grew up in Hammond and attended Morton High School, previously served as an engineer.
Finally, the department hired a new probationary firefighter, Alexander Zielinski. He’ll serve with Station 1.