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(4)(c)

CITY COMMISSION REGULAR MTG

Meeting Date:

11/06/2024

Fire Chief

Submitted For:

Dedrick Johnson

Submitted By:

Dennis Harris, Fire Department

Department:

Fire Department

Information

ACTION REQUEST

Consider and take action on Resolution No. 2024-150, confirming the Mayor's appointment of Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Harris to the position of Fire Chief.

BACKGROUND (Brief Summary)

Fire Chief David Zacherl has retired after 36 years of service with the City.  Assistant Chief Harris has demonstrated exemplary leadership, dedication, and service in fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of Assistant Fire Chief, consistently advancing the mission and goals of the Fire Department. The Fire Department and its personnel will benefit greatly from Assistant Chief Harris’s strategic vision, commitment to excellence, and ability to inspire and lead the department in meeting future challenges.

Assistant Chief Harris honorably served in the United States Navy from 1990 to 1998 with notable emergency responses in "The Gulf War" (Firefighting, Ground Support and Damage Control Operations), Mount Pinatubo Volcano Eruption in the Philippines: 1991 (Evacuation Team), and the Battle of Mogadishu, ”Blackhawk Down” 1993.

Assistant Chief Harris is a member of Phi Theta Kappa International College Honor Society and was the Valedictorian of COM Law Enforcement Academy 2007, where he also received the Law Enforcement Academy leadership award. Assistant Chief Harris was named Firefighter of the year Texas City Fire Department in 2008. Assistant Chief Harris recently completed a leadership, ethics and accountability course at Harvard Business School and always strives to improve leadership, ethics and accountability within the Department. Assistant Chief Harris holds a Master Peace Officer license, Master Structural Firefighter license, Master Fire Investigator license, Master Arson Investigator license, Master Fire Inspector license, Pro Board Plans Examiner license, Instructor II license, Fire Officer II Certification, State Certification for Texas Commission on Fire Protection Fire Marshal, Environmental Law Enforcement license, and completed the Oklahoma State University Fire Protection Technology 4 year Certificate Program.

Assistant Chief Harris authored the City's first Developers Handbook and has written numerous City ordinances as well. Assistant Chief Harris is in his 23rd year of service and has not called in sick one single time, not even during COVID. He has worked thousands of hours volunteering in the community and his dedication, commitment and contributions to the City are immense.

RECOMMENDATION

It is my honor to recommend Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Harris for promotion to the role of Fire Chief. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to inspire confidence, build effective teams, and foster a culture of accountability and professionalism. In addition to an exceptional work ethic, Assistant Chief Harris brings a strategic vision and collaborative spirit that will be invaluable as we continue to grow and adapt to meet community needs.

Fiscal Impact

Attachments

Resolution