Dempsey Named DFD Deputy Chief

Thursday, February 13th, 2025

Longtime Dalton firefighter Keith Dempsey will be the next deputy chief of the Dalton Fire Department. He was selected from a field of eight internal applicants after Deputy Chief Mike Russell announced his plans to retire. Russell's retirement was announced last week, but has been planned since early January. 

"I am honored and humbled," Dempsey said. "It's a position that I've pursued and saw myself hopefully doing a good job in for many years as I've prepared myself professionally." 

"Keith and I have worked together for 20-plus years. I know him, I know his leadership and management style, and I know that he's got a lot of experience and expertise that he brings to the table," said Fire Chief Matt Daniel. "I've seen what he's brought to the training division and I'm excited to see him bring those attributes and abilities to this new office and help our department move forward." 

Caption: DFD Training Chief Keith Dempsey will become deputy chief of the Dalton Fire Department in March

Dempsey currently serves as the chief of the department's training division. A graduate of Southeast Whitfield High School, Dempsey first became associated with the Dalton Fire Department as an explorer with the DFD's Explorer Post 404. In 1994, he volunteered as a firefighter with the Whitfield County Fire Department. After graduating from the University of Georgia, he joined the City of Marietta Fire Department where he served as a firefighter and EMT on a heavy rescue company. He was hired by the Dalton Fire Department in 2003. Two years later, he moved into the department's training division. In 2017, he began a rapid climb up the ranks when he became coordinator of the training division. He was promoted to lieutenant in 2018, captain in 2019, and division chief in 2021. 

Throughout his career, Dempsey has served the department in numerous specialized disciplines as a member of the hazardous materials and technical rescue teams, as well as serving as a technical search specialist and search team manager for Georgia Search & Rescue (GSAR) Task Force 6. He served as a principal member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) technical committee on special operations protective clothing and equipment for 20 years. In addition to his bachelor's degree from UGA, he holds a master’s degree in fire and emergency management administration from Oklahoma State University, as well as the executive fire officer designation from the National Fire Academy.

"The (deputy chief) position exists in my opinion to serve the people within the department so that they can in turn be well equipped to go out and serve the public at a very high level," Dempsey said. "It is going to keep me connected to what's going on with our people while still being at the executive level and making those larger over the horizon decisions that the executive level chiefs are responsible for."

Dempsey is married to his wife Tracie, and they have two daughters, Morgan and Harper. He will take over as deputy chief after Deputy Chief Russell's last day on March 14th.