Hallowell fire Chief James Owens submitted a request to take indefinite medical leave this week, two city officials confirmed.

Owens, who has been Hallowell’s fire chief since 2017, sought the long-term leave Tuesday morning, City Manager Ross McLellan said. Owens’ request has not yet been approved, pending additional medical documentation, McLellan said, but he expects he will need to recommend appointing an interim fire chief during the Nov. 10 City Council meeting.

Both McLellan and Mayor George Lapointe declined additional comment, saying it was a personnel matter.

Owens, reached Friday, said he was frustrated that city officials released information about his request.

Owens said he has had the medical issues, which he declined to specify, for years and had been considering taking medical leave for a while.

Owens’ request came days after he made disparaging comments on social media about No Kings protesters in Augusta, frustrating dozens of Hallowell residents, with some calling for his dismissal.

“Drove past the Augusta rally. You could identify the attendees easily,” Owens wrote on Facebook. “Old white hairs, young purple hairs with lots of nose rings, young men with man buns drinking their Starbucks. Didn’t see any guys in work boots who were missing work. Is there anyone who believes this will make any difference? I wore my mask driving by so I wouldn’t catch (Trump Derangement Syndrome).”

Owens said his request for indefinite medical leave had no relation to his comments on social media.

“I’m not that weak of a person to let them push me out like that,” Owens said. “I’ve been doing this for 50 years, so I’m not going to tuck my tail between my legs and run away crying over somebody’s hurt feelings.”

Owens has been the subject of ire from Hallowell’s famously liberal residents before. Only four municipalities in Maine — Portland, South Portland, Camden and Bar Harbor — voted more heavily in favor of Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

In 2023, city officials investigated the fire department’s training and public safety protocols after Owens denied a request for additional security and traffic control support at the city’s Pride Parade. Leaders of the Hallowell Pride Alliance also expressed concerns about his nonresponse to support requests during Pride events in years prior.

In 2022, Owens oversaw the opening of a new fire station in Stevens Commons, a process that spun a yearslong controversy over the fate of the historic station on Second Street.