On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, there was a crucial change in the position of Chief Chief of the State Fire Service (PSP). Prime Minister Donald Tusk, at the request of the Minister of the Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak, dismissed over-brigadier Mariusz Feltynowski. The fresh head of the PSP was the Silesian commander of the Provincial Fire Service, superbrigadier Wojciech Kruczek.
Dismission background: Collegium Humanum affair
Mariusz Feltynowski, who served as Chief Commandant of PSP from 10 January 2024, was placed at the centre of controversy related to cooperation with Collegium Humanum. The case came to light as early as April 2023, erstwhile the portal o2.pl revealed that in 2021 Feltynowski signed a cooperation agreement with this private university, referred to as “a mill of diplomas”. Under the agreement, the State Fire Department donated around PLN 800 1000 to the Collegium Humanum, and nearly 1 100 firefighters from the elite of the formation received MBA diplomas (Master of Business Administration), which entitles them to sit on supervisory boards of companies with the participation of the Treasury.
Feltynowski, who previously served as rector of the Fire Academy, was himself a postgraduate of the Collegium Humanum. These reports caused a storm in the media and public opinion, likely affecting the decision to revoke it.
New chief of PSP: experienced firefighter from Silesia
Wojciech Kruczek, the fresh chief commander of PSP, is an experienced firefighter with many years of experience. He began his fire protection service in 1996. In December 2017, he was appointed as the city chief of PSP in Rybnik, and on 1 February 2024 he assumed the position of Silesian commandant of the provincial PSP.
Raven has many successes in managing rescue operations. As we read on the Regional office website of the PSP in Katowice, he directed actions after the collapse of the single-family building in Szczerbice (2019), after the collapse of the front wall of the building in Bełk (2019), during the fire of historical multi-family buildings in Czerwionka-Leszczyny (2020), as well as during the fire of the hazardous waste dump in Siemianowice Śląskie (2024). In addition, he participated in removing the effects of floods in the Silesian Voivodeship in September 2023.
Reactions to the change in the position of Chief of PSP
The decision to revoke Feltynowski met with mixed reactions. The press spokesperson for the Chief Commandant of PSP, Brig. Karol Kierzkowski, admitted that he had heard rumors of resignation, but had no authoritative information about this.
The fresh chief commander of the PSP, Wojciech Kruczek, has a hard task ahead of him – not only managing 1 of the most crucial services in the country, but besides restoring assurance in the State Fire Department after fresh controversy.
Summary
The change to the position of chief of PSP is an crucial minute for the Polish fire brigade. Wojciech Kruczek, an experienced firefighter with extended experience in managing rescue actions, takes the helm at a hard time. His predecessor, Mariusz Feltynowski, left in an atmosphere of controversy related to cooperation with Collegium Humanum. Now the fresh head of PSP faces the challenge of restoring the image of formation as reliable and professional service.
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