Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
Darren Brents has joined the Mundelein Fire Department as its newest deputy chief coming from the Palatine Fire Department, where he most recently served as division chief of training. He was sworn in during Monday night’s village board meeting, but he actually started in April 2.
The move comes during a controversial reorganization of the fire department’s command staff that includes the elimination of two shift lieutenant positions.
Brents, 46, of Des Plaines, started his career with the Villa Park Fire Department in 1997 and moved to Palatine in 1998 where he was a member of the department’s honor guard and dive team. His professional recognition includes a Chief’s Excellence Award for his efforts as the vice president of the Palatine Police and Fire Benevolent Association, a charity he co-founded to help police officers, firefighters, their families, and others in times of need.
The Mundelein job opened in January 2017 after then-deputy chief Bill Lark was named chief deputy chief. Brents was among 40 applicants for the post last fall and was selected shortly afterward with an annual salary of $133,955.
Also Monday, Lt. Brian Jones was sworn in as a battalion chief. He joined the department as a paid-on-call firefighter in 1996, became a full-time firefighter in 2000, and was promoted to lieutenant in 2014.
