Longtime Firefighters Promoted To Division Chief Positions

Two longtime Dalton Firefighters were promoted to the top of their respective divisions at Tuesday morning's meeting of the Dalton Public Safety Commission. Prevention Division Coordinator Matt Daniel and Training Division Coordinator Keith Dempsey were promoted to Chief of Preventions and Chief of Training, respectively. 

Chief Daniel joined the Dalton Fire Department in 2003. Since 2017, he has served in the Preventions Division as coordinator. In that time, he has demonstrated outstanding ability to lead as a division head and has moved the operation forward in accordance with the department's vision and goals. While serving as coordinator for the division, Chief Daniel implemented a schedule of inspections, electronic inspection program, and many other procedures in the department's inspection operation since taking it over, making it work more efficiently. 

(Above) Chief Todd Pangle poses with Training Chief Dempsey (center, with wife Traci Dempsey) and Training Chief Daniel (right, with wife Sherri)

Chief Dempsey has also served the Fire Department since 2003, joining in August of that year. he moved to the Training Division in the summer of 2005 and quickly proved himself to be invaluable helping to prepare Dalton's firefighters for duty. He was promoted to Training Division Coordinator in 2017 and has demonstrated excellent ability running the department's training function.  Chief Dempsey holds a master’s degree in Fire and Emergency Management Administration through Oklahoma State University, executive fire officer designation through the National Fire Academy, and he has completed the NPQ Fire Officer IV certification. He has completed his Fire Instructor III which proves to be very valuable in the training division. He is also a graduate of the Flames program. 

Both promotions were approved by a unanimous 4-0 vote of the Public Safety Commission's members. They then had their Chief's badges pinned by their wives.