He’s answered the call of duty in the City of Jackson for 15 years, and now Tim Gonzales is ready to take his service to the next level. Gonzales received his new badge on Friday, June 23, officially becoming the Jackson Fire Department’s new Deputy Fire Chief.
Deputy Fire Chief Gonzales is taking over leadership of Jackson’s fire crews following the retirement of David Wooden in April. Gonzales previously served the fire department as a Firefighter, Fire Motor Driver, and Assistant Chief of Operations. The Jackson native says he’s excited for this opportunity to serve his hometown. “This has been my dream job since I was small. I get to live out my dream of being able to serve the firefighters and the community so I couldn’t be happier,” Deputy Fire Chief Gonzales said.
Jackson’s police and fire departments are under the direction of Elmer Hitt, the City’s Director of Police and Fire Services. “Tim has been a valuable member of Jackson’s fire service for more than a decade and I’m certain he’ll bring his work ethic, leadership skills, and dedication to providing excellent emergency response to this new role,” Director Hitt said.
Gonzales says he’s looking forward to working with Director Hitt on programs that will make the community safer. “Programs like our car seat inspections show how we can help residents take preventative measures if an emergency does occur. Focusing on more risk reduction programs will show that we can assist with different aspects of community safety,” Deputy Fire Chief Gonzales said.
Other promotions are expected at the fire department later this year as officials rebuild the command staff following retirements and promotions.