Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren has announced the retirement of City Fire Chief Willie Jackson...and the promotion of Deputy Chief Felipe Hernandez Jr. as Interim Chief to head the department.
Jackson has served the RFD for 25 years. He will continue serving until the end of February, when Hernandez takes over.
Mayor Warren says Jackson has led the fire department during a critical time for the city, but he told her when he took the job that he had promised his wife he'd be retiring at 25 years, and now is the time. She said she's thankful for his service and excited to be making history again. Felipe Hernandez will be the first Latino to head the RFD.
Hernandez says his focus will be on the health of his fellow firefighters amidst the pandemic.