Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
The retirement of Northbrook Fire Chief Jose Torres was announced Friday, the latest in a series of changes to the upper echelons of Northbrook’s emergency services in the last year. Torres, then 52, was hired in January of 2015 to take over the department. He came to Northbrook after 34 years in the fire service, the last 18 in Santa Monica, Calif.
“I’m surprised,” Villager President Sandy Frum said of his retirement. “I thought he did a good job. I’m just surprised from the age standpoint.”
Torres could not be reached for comment. A press release did not explain his decision.
One of the key improvements during his tenure was the elevation of the department’s Insurance Service Office rating to a Class 1. Much of the credit for that jump went to Deputy Chief Dan Quinn, who retired a month ago, after 28 years working for the department. He had been in his new job for only about a year, replacing Tim Smeltzer, who shifted to battalion chief.
Quinn’s replacement was formally announced Sept. 26 along with other promotions to fill in the ranks. The new deputy chief is Andy Carlson, a former battalion chief, and Capt. David Schweihs moved up to battalion chief. Firefighter/paramedic Steven Luecht was promoted to lieutenant.
Torres will stay until the end of the year, leaving at the same time as Northbrook Police Chief Chuck Wernick, who announced his retirement in July. A month before, Deputy Police Chief Lou Caruso, head of operations, and Dan Petka, spokesman and head of community relations, announced their retirements.
Northbrook Village Manager Rich Nahrstadt said a nationwide search will get underway to replace Torres.
thanks Dan
