Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
Elgin firefighters retired the colors at Station One along Summit Street on Thursday afternoon, marking the retirement of Chief John Fahy.
After being presented the folded flag, Fahy said he was grateful and thanked his family, colleagues and the city for the opportunities that came from being a firefighter.
Fahy worked as a firefighter in Aurora for six months before coming to the Elgin department in February 1987. He was named chief by outgoing former City Manager Sean Stegall and took the post in January 2011.
Prior to that, Fahy led the fire union for six years. He also served on the Kane County Board from 2006 to 2010 as a Republican representing District 21, which covers West Dundee, where he and his family live.
Fahy noted that during his tenure, the department upgraded technology; doubled available paramedic service to the community; started a community outreach program with each station adopting a social service agency to support; upgraded its fleet with the purchase of several ambulances, ladder trucks and fire engines; remodeled stations; and began an Explorer program for youths.
Fahy retires from a job that paid him about $168,000 a year, and he now heads to Elgin Community College to become senior director of academic programming and public safety at the new ECC Center for Emergency Services in Burlington, a post that pays $85,000 annually.
Assistant Chief Dave Schmidt will be acting chief through early October, during what’s left of Fahy’s vacation time with the city. After that, Kozal will name Fahy’s replacement.
