Title
To honor and recognize Fire Chief Ned Pettus, Jr. for his 35 years of dedicated service to the City of Columbus on his retirement from the Columbus Division of Fire.
Body
WHEREAS, Fire Chief Ned Pettus, Jr. joined the Columbus Division of Fire on January 24, 1977; and
WHEREAS, Chief Pettus advanced through the ranks during his 35 years of service and was promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant in 1988, Captain in 1991, Battalion Chief in 1993, Deputy Chief in 1997, and Assistant Chief in 2001; and
WHEREAS, on March 26, 2002, Chief Pettus was officially appointed as the City’s twentieth Fire Chief and the first African-American to attain that rank. As Fire Chief, Chief Pettus was responsible for the Division’s more than 1500 members who ensure the citizens of Columbus receive the best fire safety services available; and
WHEREAS, on January 16, 2008, Chief Pettus was designated as a “Chief Fire Officer” by the Commission on Professional Credentialing, achieving a personal and professional milestone in his career; and
WHEREAS, Chief Pettus received the 2009 Metropolitan Fire Chief of the Year Award. He served as Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, and President of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, a section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Fire Protection Association; and
WHEREAS, in addition to his regular duties, Chief Pettus is a member of the Division’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team, Ohio Task Force 1, the Simon Kenton Council Urban Scouting Program, Boy Scouts of America, Firefighters Against Drugs, Columbus Literacy Council, Columbus Urban League, Columbus Metropolitan Club, and the Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Chief Pettus will retire on March 23, 2012 after 35 years of commendable service to the citizens of Columbus with the Columbus Division of Fire. Chief Pettus lead the Division of Fire to its current rank as one of the most prestigious Fire Departments in the country;...
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