City Council recognizes retiring Fire Chief Krogler
City Council recognizes retiring Fire Chief Krogler
Times Observer photos by Delaney Chase Retiring Fire Chief David Krogler is recognized by Mayor David Wortman and City Council during Monday’s public meeting.
Mayor David Wortman gives Retiring Fire Chief David Krogler a gift from the city during Monday’s public meeting.
Times Observer photos by Delaney Chase Retiring Fire Chief David Krogler is recognized by Mayor David Wortman and City Council during Monday’s public meeting.
Mayor David Wortman gives Retiring Fire Chief David Krogler a gift from the city during Monday’s public meeting.
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The Warren City Council recognized retiring Warren City Fire Department Chief David Krogler during its Monday evening meeting, honoring more than three decades of service to the city and surrounding communities.
Krogler's official retirement date is today, bringing an end to a career that began in March 1990 when he was hired as a part-time utility firefighter.
Mayor David Wortman highlighted Krogler's progression through the department, noting that he served in several key positions before becoming fire chief. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1997, captain in 2009 and fire chief in July 2021.
Wortman described Krogler's 37 year career as an example of dedication to the fire service, fellow firefighters and emergency medical services.
He also credited Krogler with helping advance the department through grant writing, equipment purchases and facility improvements. Those efforts, he said, helped the city upgrade its fire facilities and equipment to meet current standards.
Krogler also played a major role in expanding the city's emergency medical services and developing agreements with neighboring municipalities.
Wortman also pointed to the department's ongoing work to add advanced life-saving services within the city of Warren, calling it another important initiative Krogler helped bring forward.
Krogler said he never expected his career to lead to the fire chief's position when he joined the department in 1990.
"If you told me 36 years later I'd be standing here as the fire chief, I'd have said you were crazy," Krogler said.
He credited the firefighters he worked alongside, city administration and members of council for helping him throughout his career.
Krogler said one of his proudest accomplishments was helping develop agreements with volunteer fire departments and municipalities that were struggling to maintain adequate emergency services.
He said the effort became particularly important as communities face ongoing challenges with staffing volunteer departments and providing emergency medical services.
"Being able to grow the services from the fire department to provide those is one of the big things that I can look back on and be very proud of," Krogler said.
He also credited Deputy Chief Jeremy Rulander for his work on the department's grant applications and said grants have been increasingly important as the cost of equipment and other fire department needs continues to rise.
Looking ahead, Krogler expressed confidence in the department's future leadership. Deputy Chief Rulander is expected to assume the role of fire chief following Krogler's retirement.
"I have full confidence in his leadership and the providing of service from the guys that we've expected over the years," Krogler said.
Krogler concluded by thanking the city and community for the opportunity to serve.