COLLIERVILLE, Tenn. - A newly obtained letter is shedding fresh light on the dramatic shakeup inside the Collierville Fire Department, revealing Fire Chief John Selberg acknowledged problems within the department and pleaded for a chance to fix them just days before he was placed on administrative leave.
FOX13 obtained the eight-page letter Selberg sent to Town Administrator Molly Mehner on Aug. 7, three days before he was removed from active duty.
In the document, Selberg expressed surprise over the severity of the concerns raised against him while defending the progress made during his four years leading the department.
"I was caught completely off guard by some of the issues and am sad that you feel I have let you and the town down," Selberg wrote in the opening pages of the letter.
The chief outlined what he described as major accomplishments during his tenure but also acknowledged the department still faced challenges. Rather than disputing the concerns, Selberg asked town leadership for an opportunity to correct them.
"I respectfully ask that you consider giving me an opportunity to correct this situation. I know that I can address the concerns and meet your expectations," he wrote.
According to a town memo, officials had raised several issues involving the department, including communication problems with fire personnel, delays in handling personnel matters, and the absence of standard operating procedures for ambulance operations.
But the newly obtained correspondence shows Selberg believed those concerns could be resolved under his leadership.
The following day, Mehner responded.
In an Aug. 8 letter, Mehner told Selberg she had concluded it was time for a change at the top.
"Given the duration and significance of these concerns, and the continued lack of progress, it is time for a leadership change," Mehner wrote.
According to Mehner, she asked Selberg to resign by Aug. 10.
Instead, Selberg was placed on administrative leave that same day.
Mehner later said the decision came after Selberg allegedly stated, "I don't [expletive] report to Molly Mehner" in a public setting in front of fire department personnel, other town employees, and citizens.
The controversy has sparked growing questions from residents about how the situation has been handled.
During Monday night's Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, several citizens pressed town leaders for answers but received little public discussion about the matter.
"I believe this sequence of events raises serious questions about transparency bordering on intimidation and whether the current process is being allowed to reach a truly independent and impartial conclusion," resident Allen Jones told town leaders.
For now, Selberg remains on administrative leave.
His future with the department could ultimately rest with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the same governing body that hired him four years ago.
As concerns over transparency and leadership continue to mount, residents are still waiting for answers about what led to one of the most significant personnel moves at Collierville Town Hall in recent memory.
FOX13 will continue following developments and provide updates as new information becomes available.
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