The City of Owensboro celebrated Steve Mitchell Tuesday evening as he soon approaches the end of his 37-year career as a firefighter, and 11 years as chief of the Owensboro Fire Department. After holding a reception for Mitchell at City Hall, City leaders praised the chief for his decades of public service.
“As a chief, I think his leadership, management style and education — he’s so far head. We’re just lucky to have someone like that with those types of qualities,” said City Commissioner Jeff Sanford.
Inside hires are typically more common for a City like Owensboro, Sanford said, but bringing Mitchell in as an outside hire from Iowa was a great move for the City in 2008.
“Since he’s been here, he’s been having to adapt to all the new stuff,” Sanford said. “Managing the growth of the City — the growth of Highway 54, of downtown — all the things that have been added. It’s not like you’re the chief and things stay the same. He’s done a tremendous job with it.”
Mayor Tom Watson read aloud a list of Mitchell’s many accomplishments since taking over leadership of OFD.
These accomplishments include the implementation of a company inspection program and an enhancement of the medical service training program, “which resulted in a more comprehensive medical emergency response program,” Watson said.
Mitchell has been able to secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money to aid in the growth of the Owensboro Fire Department. In 2014, the Kentucky League of Cities named him the 2013 Kentucky Career Fire Chief of the Year, and he successfully completed the process that awarded him the professional designation of Fire Chief Officer by the Commission of Professional Credentialing. Mitchell is one of only 1,391 fire chief officers designated with the title across the world.
“Chief Mitchell has led OFD in a positive direction over the years and has provided a great service to OBKY,” Watson said.
Mitchell received an enthusiastic standing ovation from a crowded room as he accepted his retirement award and spoke publicly about his service over the years, crediting City officials for their understanding and knowledge about the “mission” of the City’s fire department.
“I have been blessed with a long career where I never felt like I was going to work,” he said. “Over the past 11 years, OFD has been real fortunate. We’ve had two mayors, a lot of commissioners and two city managers that have been very supportive. They’ve gone through the process to learn what the mission is for the fire department and support it, and I really appreciate that.”
Mitchell also credited OFD’s leadership team and the different departments across Owensboro for working so well together over the years.
“Here in Owensboro, we have a group of firefighters that truly understands community service, and they have a commitment to safety, and to the public,” he said. “I’m truly honored to be a part of that, and I appreciate you guys.”
Battalion Chief James Howard was named Owensboro’s next fire chief in early October. Howard was sworn in as chief at the city commission meeting Tuesday.
