Chatham-Kent’s new fire paramedic chief will start the job in the new year.
Bob Crawford has been hired to lead local fire and paramedic services, effective Jan. 15, 2018.
Crawford, who was Chatham-Kent’s Fire Chief from 2001 to 2013, will step down from his position as General Manager of Community Development on Dec. 15.
Chatham-Kent Chief Administrative Officer Don Shropshire made the appointment after the municipality had completed the recruitment process to fill the position left vacant when former chief Ken Stuebing was named Fire Chief of Halifax Nova Scotia.
“When we reviewed the needs of the fire and paramedic service, we realized that we needed a unique set of skills and experience” said Shropshire. “I asked Bob Crawford to consider the chief’s job and he accepted. Bob did not apply for this position.”
“We had some extremely capable applicants, however, Chief Crawford had the best set of skills and experience to address our current priorities” added Shropshire.
Crawford, who has been filling the chief’s position on an interim basis, said he enjoyed his time in community development but is looking forward to returning to emergency services, where he spent the bulk of his career, which began as a firefighter in North York in 1979.
“I believe we are doing some vital and important work in community development and that work will continue,” said Crawford.
Shropshire said no decision has been made on filling the general manager’s position in community development.
