West Bend, WI – The West Bend Police and Fire Commission met Tuesday, June 12, 2023, to take action regarding “Hiring Procedures for a new Fire Chief.”
The process to find a new fire chief in West Bend, WI started in April 2023 when then chief Gerald Kudek announced his retirement. The Police & Fire Commission met, the job was posted, and an offer was reportedly made to a candidate at the end of May 2023. By June 2, 2023, the commission indicated the process was starting over. Early word is the candidate declined the offer; however, the commission has not confirmed.
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Fast forward to this week and according to meeting minutes the commission changed Section VI of the Police and Fire Commission Rules and Regulations. Basically, revisions were made to the hiring process; those changes are noted below.
The following are the qualifications necessary to be appointed Fire Chief in the City of West Bend:
1. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Fire Science, Public Administration,
or a related field.
2. Either (a) completion of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program, (b) a master’s degree or higher degree in Fire Science, Public Administration, Business Administration, or other related field, (c) completion of an executive fire service school or certificate program similar to the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program or a master’s degree program at an accredited academic institution, or (d) other equivalent relevant fire service certification or leadership experience in management of a fire department.
3. Minimum of Ten (10) years of work experience in the fire service.
4. Minimum of Five (5) years of experience in management of a fire department with specific experience in planning and budgeting in a command and senior leadership position.
5. A valid driver’s license.
Nanci Heaps, with the Police & Fire Commission, said the “job posting should be out tomorrow (Wednesday, June 14, 2023).”
“Notices will also be sent to those who already applied,” said Heaps. “Anyone with qualifications will be allowed to interview after changes were made yesterday.”
There were several people from with the West Bend Fire Department who applied to the initial posting.
Questions still unanswered:
- Do the people who applied before have to apply again?
- Will everyone who applies receive an interview from the Police & Fire Commission?
- What is the current timeline to filling the post?
Until a full-time chief is selected, Deputy Chief Chuck Beistle has been named to serve in the interim chief. Beistle was named at the May 23, 2023 meeting of the Police & Fire Commission.
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.
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…
