February 19, 2007

WRT Fire Chief to step down

       After ten years on the job at the White River Township Fire Department, Chief Michael Tibbetts is hanging up his helmet for the last time.  Tibbetts' last day on the job will be Friday, March 2nd.  "It's time to move on," said Tibbetts, who is leaving to spend more time with his family.  "I've accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish during my tenure as Chief.  It's time for some fresh ideas," he added.

         Tibbetts was hired by the department as a part-time firefighter in 1997 and was promoted to the position of Lieutenant in early 1999.  Later in that same year, Tibbetts was one of the department's first five full-time firefighters hired and was promoted to Battalion Chief.  In 2001, Tibbetts was hired by the White River Township Fire Protection District as the department's Fire Chief.

         The son of a firefighter, Tibbetts came to the department full time after a thirty-year career with the Indianapolis Fire Department.  As a child, Tibbetts said, he wasn't sure he could follow in the family footsteps because regulations prevented firefighters from wearing glasses.  Those regulations were later lifted and now thirty-eight years later Tibbetts is ready for a new challenge.  "I'll miss it, but the reality is that nothing lasts forever," Tibbetts remarked.

         The department is holding an open house to honor and bid farewell to Chief Tibbetts on Friday, March 2nd at the department's headquarters building at 850 S. Mullinix Road.  The event is scheduled for noon to 2pm and is open to all who are interested in attending.

         The department's Deputy Chief, Scott Cassin, will assume the position as the interim Chief until the White River Township Fire Protection District Board names a permanent replacement.  No timetable has been set for naming a successor.
 
   

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