Fired Highland Park parade shooting survivor settles with Park District; ‘I can now move on with my life’
After experiencing a panic attack in his office following an active shooter incident, Maliszewski said he was unable to return to work. The panic attack came nine months after the former recreation director worked at the Park District’s July 4 parade, where seven people were killed and dozens more were injured during a mass shooting.
A former Park District of Highland Park employee, who was fired after experiencing months of post-traumatic stress disorder related to the July 4, 2022 parade shooting, has reached a settlement with his former employer.
Four of the five Park District commissioners voted to approve a settlement agreement with an unidentified former employee, after more than an hour of closed session on May 8. One commissioner left the meeting before the vote.
Chris Maliszewski, a former recreation director for the Park District, confirmed that settlement was with him. Maliszewski, 42, was terminated from his job in December, after suffering from panic attacks, insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from the Fourth of July parade shooting in Highland Park.
“I have mixed emotions,” he said about the conclusion of his time with the Park District now that the settlement has been reached.
“I spent 10 years of my life with that organization, and I loved every minute of it,” Maliszewski said. “Knowing that chapter is closed, in the manner with which it was, is bittersweet.
I’m also elated that I can now move on with my life,” he said. “I am able to close that chapter properly and have closure to the circumstance.”
After experiencing a panic attack in his office following an active shooter incident, Maliszewski said he was unable to return to work. The panic attack came nine months after the former recreation director worked at the Park District’s July 4 parade, where seven people were killed and dozens more were injured during a mass shooting.
Following the panic attack incident on the job, Maliszewski said he took a medical leave of absence from the Park District in April 2023. After exhausting his paid family and medical leave, Maliszewski returned to work at the end of July, but took a second, unprotected leave a few weeks later for his mental health.
Due to the length of his leave, number of extensions and therapist’s inability to provide a return-to-work date, he was let go from his position, according to a termination letter sent to Maliszewski and shared with the News-Sun.
“The Park District cannot grant your request for indefinite leave … and, therefore, is ending your employment,” said his termination letter from Laurel Hall, human resources director for the Park District.
Though Maliszewski confirmed the settlement involved his case, he said he could not share the details of the agreement.
“I never wanted anything from anybody particular to a settlement per se or a financial award … at the onset of my pursuit of workman’s comp,” he said. “I’m just excited to be able to move on with my life.”
Park District spokeswoman Liz Gogola said the matter has been resolved and the Park District has no further comment.
Board of Park Commissioner Brian Kaplan declined to comment. President Terry Grossberg, and commissioners Jennifer Freeman and Barnett Ruttenberg, did not respond to interview requests. Commissioner Cal Bernstein left the meeting after the closed session and did not vote on the settlement.
Moving forward, Maliszewski is continuing his mental health advocacy on his podcast, The Walking Tall Movement. The Palatine resident recently became a licensed auctioneer, and said he finds joy helping “great organizations” raise money for charity.
“I would have preferred not to be in the situation I am today, but what I can say is as luck — fate, whatever you want to call it — it seems to be in my experience that everything happens for a reason,” he said.
chilles@chicagotribune.com