University of Connecticut fire chief William Perez has been on paid administrative leave since Friday, Sept. 6. University spokesperson Stephanie Reitz confirmed that the conditions of Perez’s absence are not disciplinary in nature but refused to provide further details on the matter.
“UConn does not comment on personnel-related matters,” said Reitz, who refrained from divulging more context on the issue.
Unconfirmed reports have observed that Perez’s work vehicle has remained on campus subsequent to his departure. In Perez’s absence, deputy chief Chris Renshaw has assumed the position of interim fire chief.
“The University of Connecticut Fire Department is made up of many dedicated men and women who love the university and care deeply about the health and safety of everyone on its campuses,” said Renshaw. “It has been that way since the department was founded in 1898, and will always be the case regardless of who is serving in specific leadership roles at any given time.”
Perez has served as UConn’s fire chief since Sept. 2018, marking the most recent position in his 40-year career as a first responder.
In his role as chief, Perez, “oversees three divisions: fire operations, fire administration and the fire marshal unit. With this, he is responsible for providing the education to the university in fire, life safety, and disaster preparedness, as well as enforcing university safety codes,” according to the UConn website.
Perez has received multiple accolades throughout his career, including an induction into the Connecticut Firefighters Hall of Fame in 2023.
In a report from the fall of 1999, the only public disciplinary infraction leveraged against Perez was a one-day suspension from his position as an East Hartford medical officer for holding a knife to a colleague’s neck twice in an incident he described as horseplay.
It is not currently known when Perez will return to the department in his full capacities as fire chief.