State Police investigate Saratoga Springs fire chief

Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Joseph Dolan is suspended without pay amid allegations that he falsely noted he worked a full eight-hour day for a total of 27 days when he was actually working for the state. City officials also accuse him of misusing a city-owned vehicle.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Suspended city fire Chief Joseph Dolan, who is accused of double-dipping with an intent to defraud, is now under investigation by the State Police. As first reported by WNYT, the city's Commissioner of Public Safety Jim Montagnino confirmed the investigation that will look into allegations that Dolan allegedly got paid by the city at the same time he was working and being paid by the state Office of Fire and Prevention Control.

Last month, Montagnino filed 16 charges against Dolan including violations of state Civil Service law, official misconduct, falsifying records, offering a false instrument, petit larceny and grand larceny, a felony. Montagnino alleged that between February 2020 and November 2022, Dolan falsely noted he worked a full eight-hour day for a total of 27 days when he was actually working for the state.

Dolan's attorney, Brian Culnan, said that neither he nor his client has been contacted by State Police. However, Culnan said he will be responding to the city's attorney on Wednesday and is considering sharing the response with the public. "We want to show what the true facts are," Culnan said. "You will see how ridiculous this all is."

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In addition to the criminal charges, Montagnino also alleged that Dolan was using the city's $68,800 Chevy Tahoe fire command car as his personal vehicle. Montagnino said the car should have stayed at the station for whoever was in charge that day. The commissioner has also said that Dolan, who was paid $140,007 in 2022 by the city and another $6,032 by the state, did not disclose his work for the state on his ethics disclosure form as required by the city. Dolan is currently suspended without pay.

In May, Culnan also said the charges against Dolan were a "political hit job" and that Dolan was working for the city at all times, including when he attended the state Academy of Fire Sciences at Montour Falls. Dolan's troubles don't end with the city commissioner and State Police. In April, the Saratoga Springs Professional Fire Fighters Association approved a vote of "no-confidence" in Dolan. In a statement released at the time, union President Joseph Brimhall said his members have concerns stemming from several incidents "based on the totality of decisions and actions that we believe are compromising the safety of our community, those who serve it and our collective confidence in Chief Dolan." As an example, the union referenced the Nov. 20 shootout on Broadway, saying that the incident left firefighters experiencing "significant trauma," but Dolan's "casual actions and concerns for the well-being under his command eroded a growing lack of confidence in his leadership."

Union officials also disagreed with Dolan's proposal to have Saratoga Springs EMS provide services to the town of Greenfield, a plan that was ultimately rejected, and on Dolan's handling of EMS deployment during the Saratoga Race Course meet.

State Police said they cannot comment on ongoing investigations.