Tom Fagan, new interim chief of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, said he’s honored and excited to “serve our great community and responders in this new manner while the executive search is underway.”
Fagan, who has been with LDCFM for four years and previously worked with the Lee’s Summit, Missouri fire department for 17 years, replaces Chief Shaun Coffey, who retired Dec. 18.
Fagan outlined some of what is to come under his tenure, such as focusing on new, community-driven strategic planning initiatives and updating the department’s community risk assessment and standard of cover study, which was last conducted in 2017.
“That study will be completed by summer and guide our planning to meet community expectations for quality emergency response times and new innovative response practices,” he said in an email.
In addition, the department will start its 27th recruit academy in January, filling positions vacated by retirements over the past year, he said.
In a city news release, City Manager Craig Owens expressed confidence in Fagan, reflecting on his experience as LDCFM’s division chief of administration.
“Tom has done an excellent job serving our community at the Fire Medical department, and I am confident he will excel in the new role as Interim Chief,” Owens said in the release. “He will serve an integral role in our leadership team and provide a seamless transition for the department as we conduct our search for the new Chief.”
The city will begin a recruitment process for the next permanent fire chief in January, according to the news release.
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Emma Bascom (she/her) reported for The Lawrence Times from December 2021 through May 2022. Read more of her work for the Times here.
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Contributed photo; Lawrence Times file photo
Contributed photo; Lawrence Times file photo
