Former fire chief charged

Former Omaha Fire Chief Robert “Rob” Dahlquist was charged Wednesday with domestic violence and disturbing the peace, both misdemeanors.

Chief Deputy Sarpy County Attorney Tricia Freeman is handling the case because Dahlquist's wife works in the Douglas County Attorney's Office.

The charges stem from accusations that Dahlquist assaulted his wife, Pamela Dahlquist, on Thursday. Saturday evening, she went to a hospital, where the staff called police, Freeman said. Rob Dahlquist was arrested Sunday morning.

The Dahlquists have been married about 27 years.

If convicted, Rob Dahlquist could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for the assault and up to 90 days and a $500 fine for disturbing the peace. He is expected to be in court April 5.

“We believe the evidence supports the charges,” Freeman said.

She said she could not provide more details about the case.

Dahlquist, 51, was taken to the Douglas County Correctional Center about 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning. He paid $5,000, which was 10 percent of a $50,000 bail, and was released that day.

According to an Omaha Police Department report, officers were called to Clarkson West Medical Center near 144th Street and West Center Road about 6:30 p.m. Saturday to investigate an assault.

The officers spoke to Pamela Dahlquist, 52, who told them that she had been assaulted by her husband at their home. The report indicates that the officers took photos of Pamela Dahlquist's injuries, but no details about them were made public.

Rob Dahlquist worked for the Fire Department for 26½ years. Former Mayor Mike Fahey appointed Dahlquist the city's fire chief in April 2003, a position he held until his retirement in 2008.

He is the son of the late Horton Dahlquist, who served as Omaha's fire chief in the mid-1980s, and the late Catherine Dahlquist, who was active in Democratic politics.

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