HELTONVILLE – The Pleasant Run Fire Department is facing a leadership crisis following the immediate resignation of Chief Darin Kinser. In a formal statement issued today, Kinser cited an “ongoing effort to carry out a hostile takeover of the leadership” from within the department, leading to a “toxic and divisive atmosphere.”
Kinser, who served the department for six years, including three as chief, expressed pride in his past contributions but stated that the current internal conflict has made his position untenable.
“When I was elected Chief, I immediately faced opposition from our township government, who disapproved of the decision and, in my belief, hoped the department would fail so they could assume control and hand it off elsewhere,” Kinser stated. “After spending a year fighting that battle, I now find myself in the middle of another—this time from within.”
Kinser specifically accused a “four-member group within the department” of engaging in “targeted slander and defamation against both myself and the Deputy Chief.” He asserted that this behavior has severely damaged reputations and compromised the department’s integrity and unity.
A direct consequence of this alleged hostility, according to Kinser, has been a “mass exodus of dedicated members who no longer feel respected, safe, or supported.” He lamented that this departure of personnel has left insufficient active members to take internal steps to rectify the situation, making his resignation “unavoidable.”
In a stern warning, Kinser declared, “Let me be absolutely clear: if the slander and defamation directed toward myself, the Deputy Chief, or others does not cease immediately, I—and others affected—will be forced to consider and pursue appropriate action to protect our reputations and hold individuals accountable.”
Kinser concluded his statement by emphasizing the severe toll the ongoing stress and toxicity have taken on his health and well-being. He extended his gratitude to those who supported him and expressed his best wishes for the department’s future.
The resignation leaves the Pleasant Run Fire Department in a precarious position, facing significant internal challenges and a depleted roster of active members. The Board of Directors and remaining members now confront the task of addressing Kinser’s serious allegations and stabilizing the department’s operations.
