Community invited to swearing-in ceremony of Grand Rapids’ next fire chief
Swearing #Swearing
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The community is invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Grand Rapids’ next fire chief on May 1.
The swearing-in will take place at 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 1, in Grand Rapids City Commission Chambers located on the 9th floor of City Hall at 300 Monroe Ave. NW.
It will also air on Comcast Channel 26 and be live streamed on the city of Grand Rapids Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Brad Brown, a longtime employee of the Grand Rapids Fire Department, was selected April 10 as the department’s new chief.
Brown currently serves as deputy chief of support services at the department and will replace Fire Chief John Lehman, who is retiring May 1 after a 38-year firefighting career and seven years as chief.
Related: Longtime Grand Rapids firefighter chosen as department’s new chief
The swearing-in will include an appearance by the Grand Rapids Fire Department honor guard, remarks by Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, City Manager Mark Washington and Brown. Community members will also have a chance to talk with the new chief.
“We hope residents and others in the community join us to celebrate this special occasion,” Bliss said. “This is another chapter in the history of our fire department and a chance to show support for the new leader of the GRFD.”
Brown has been with the Grand Rapids Fire Department for 20 years. Before that, he worked in fire service in Greensboro, N.C.
Over the years, he’s been a firefighter, acting equipment operator, acting officer, lieutenant-planning, captain-planning, assistant chief-administration and filled in as acting fire chief at GRFD.
He also has overseen the department’s $36 million budget, purchasing, planning division, fleet and facilities, administrative staff, fire prevention division, and helped with the hiring and promotion of GRFD employees.
The Grand Rapids Fire Department has 203 members.
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