West Bend, WI – The West Bend Police and Fire Commission meet Tuesday, June 12, 2023, to take possible action regarding “Hiring Procedures for a new Fire Chief.”
The process has been extended after an offer was reportedly made to a candidate at the end of May 2023. The Police & Fire Commission were not clear on what happened with that offer, however by June 2, 2023 the commission indicated the process was starting over.
According to meeting minutes:
The Police & Fire Commission intends to repost the position of Fire Chief and accept applications from within the department as well as external applications. Prior to reposting the position, the Police & Fire Commission will schedule a meeting to discuss and review any changes to the job requirements for the position of Fire Chief and to consider revisions to the Police & Fire Commission Rules and Regulations.
During the May 23, 2023 meeting of the Police and Fire Commission action was taken to name Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle interim fire chief.
At the time Heaps indicated the announcement of a new chief “may be in a couple of weeks.”
Former Chief Gerald Kudek announced his retirement in April; his last day was May 27, 2023.
Heaps would not go on record with regard to what happened during the process since its last meeting May 23, 2023.
Other questions asked included: how many people initially applied for the position, how many people were interviewed, how many candidates applied internally, and what happened to force the Police and Fire Commission to start over?
Heaps did indicate “this is not an easy job.”
The Police and Fire Commission has gone outside the community in the past when it hired Jim Vest in 2000; Vest hailed from Oak Park, Illinois. Vest retired from Oak Park as a battalion chief when he was 53. Vest retired as chief in West Bend at 65.
Kudek was Battalion Chief before taking over when Vest stepped down after 12 years in December 2012. At that time Kudek was one of four candidates to apply for the job; all who applied were from within the department.
Beistle has been with the WBFD for 30 years. He’s been Deputy Chief since July 2016.
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“Obviously Chuck is well qualified,” said Kudek. “He was my righthand man for a lot of years and I appreciate all his effort and support.”
According to Kudek the next steps for the department include work on EMS, community paramedicine, and more training.
“We have great equipment and technology but will need to invest more in the people,” said Kudek.
In the past, the promoting from within dates to the 1800’s when Chief George Kuelthau joined the fire department June 2, 1890. He was assistant chief from 1896 to 1914 and was elected fire chief in 1915 when Chief Boden unexpectedly passed away.
On a history note: How many previous fire chiefs can you name for the West Bend FD?
Let’s get you started: Kudek, Vest, Ray Roskopf, Brian Mayer, Bill Oelhafen…
