Historic married assistant fire chiefs honored at MFD retirement ceremony

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Fire Department honored a historic pair of assistant fire chiefs Friday, June 23. They're retiring after decades of service.

The married team of Sharon Purifoy-Smoots and Dr. De'Wayne Smoots have served MFD for decades.

The couple is truly historic: Assistant Chief Purifoy-Smoots was the first Black woman in the state to rise to the rank of Assistant Chief.

And together they are the highest-ranking married couple in US fire service history.

Friday they were honored for their contributions.

Assistant Chief Purifoy-Smoots said, "I learned a lot. I'm going to take a lot with me. Thank you for all of the support."

And Assistant Chief De'Wayne Smoots said, "Everything you do in your life is really meant to help other people."

More than 100 firefighters, family members, and friends celebrated the pair who blazed trails and created change.

There were a lot of laughs, and a lot of gifts, proclamations, and honors.

Milwaukee Alderman Michael Murphy said, "We are fortunate they graced our city with their expertise, their knowledge, and their compassion."

Fire Chief Aaron Lipski told them, "You do deserve every bit of accolade, and you deserve the crowd of people that have assembled here today."

Dr. De'Wayne Smoots joined MFD in 1987, Sharon Purifoy-Smoots joined in 2003.

Chief Lipski said they both overcame racial and gender bias to rise to the highest levels of the department, adding, "I've watched them do this with poise and with grace."

Replacing them will be difficult as the department continues to strive for more diversity.

Right now MFD's remaining assistant chief is Black, but Lipski said there are few female captains, and no women in leadership roles at the battalion chief level or above.

Chief Lipski said, "We don't have anywhere near a fully representative fire department. We're just not there yet."

Both assistant chiefs had already postponed retirement in order to help the Milwaukee Fire Department through transition periods. Now they say the time is right to retire to a new home in North Carolina.