Changes for LaSalle Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief
LaSalle Fire Chief, Dave Sutton, has announced his retirement after almost 35 years of dedication to the fire service. Chief Sutton started his career in 1986 as a Volunteer Firefighter with the Sandwich West Fire Department. Later that same year, he took a full-time position with LaSalle Dispatch. Chief Sutton then became a Career Firefighter in 1989, and was the Training Instructor from 1998 to 2008. He climbed the ranks with LaSalle Fire Service becoming the Deputy Fire Chief in 2008, Acting Fire Chief in 2011 and was appointed LaSalle Fire Chief in 2012.
“Chief Sutton has been an integral part of the development of LaSalle Fire Service. His expertise has certainly developed our emergency management preparedness,” said Mayor, Marc Bondy. “Through training and education, in his role as the Town’s Emergency Management Coordinator, Chief Sutton has encouraged collaboration between administration and outside organizations so that when the time comes, staff are familiar with what might be expected.”
The staff of the LaSalle Fire Department have been focusing on a values-based leadership style that started with former Fire Chief, Ken Day. Fire Chief Day passed away in 2011, and Chief Sutton led the department during Chief Day’s illness, and has continued leading the department for the last eight years. Succession planning over the years in the fire department, and within the leadership of the Town’s administration, has helped to prepare for staffing changes such as this.
Chief Sutton will be officially retiring in April 2021. Current Deputy Fire Chief, Ed Thiessen, will take over the role of Fire Chief upon Chief Sutton’s retirement. Deputy Chief Thiessen has been in this role since 2012. He started as a Volunteer Firefighter in 2002, and was appointed a Volunteer Captain in 2008.
“Chief Sutton has led the municipality through several emergency situations over the years. He is extremely well-respected and always represents LaSalle with dignity and integrity,” said Joe Milicia, CAO. “It has been an honour to have Chief Sutton on our municipal management team. Likewise, we have worked closely with Deputy Fire Chief Thiessen, and expect the success of the department to continue under his leadership.”
In 2019, the department completed a Fire Protection Services Master Plan. Recently, LaSalle Council approved an implementation plan to continue to develop the service to be able to respond to the needs of the LaSalle community.
“There is a type of a roadmap for the department based on the Master Plan. I expect that the upcoming leadership of the department has a very stable future, led by Deputy Chief Thiessen,” said Chief Sutton. The two will continue to work closely together in the coming months, making the transition a smooth one for both.