Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Mark Rohlfing announces his retirement

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The City of Milwaukee Fire Chief Mark Rohlfing announced he will retire on Oct. 30. 

Chief Rohlfing has led the department for more than 10 years. He sent a letter Friday, Sept. 25, announcing the news. It doesn't go into specifics about why he's retiring.

"It has been my honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Milwaukee and to lead the Milwaukee Fire Department for the last 10.5 years. I am announcing today that my last day of work serving the Milwaukee Fire Department will be October 30, 2020 as I am retiring from the department. The Milwaukee Fire Department is an exceptional organization. I have been fortunate to work with a dedicated staff including an exceptional command staff. The firefighters of the Milwaukee Fire Department are second-to-none; they are truly caring and selfless professionals. Thank you all for letting me become a member of the Milwaukee Fire Department family.

In my position as the Milwaukee Fire Chief I have enjoyed representing the Milwaukee Fire Department at the Milwaukee County Fire Chiefs Association, as a board member on the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association, as a board member on the International Association of Fire Chiefs Great Lakes Division, and as a member of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association.

I am blessed to have worked in a field I love for over 37 years. Coming to Milwaukee was one of the best decisions of my life. I thank Mayor Barrett, the Fire & Police Commissioners, and Alderpersons for their support over the last 10+ years.

It has been a wonderful and rewarding journey, and my wife Maureen and I are looking forward to the next chapter in our lives."

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett took time to thank him for his hard work and dedication. 

"I want to thank him for his leadership, thank him for his professionalism, and thank him for doing a very good job for the City of Milwaukee," Mayor Barrett said. 

Rohlfing took over the Milwaukee Fire Department in May of 2010, after spending most of his career in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. 

Read a full statement from Mayor Barrett below: 

“For the last ten and half years, I’ve had the pleasure of working very closely with Chief Rohlfing. He has modernized the Milwaukee Fire Department in a way that’s really retained the professionalism of the Fire Department at a time when we’ve had dwindling resources and many fiscal challenges.“

Chief Rohlfing has done a remarkable job in working with our suburban neighbors. There’s been more coordination and cooperation out of the City of Milwaukee Fire Department and suburban fire departments than we probably have seen in our lifetime. In many ways, he’s set the stage moving forward for more regional cooperation among the fire departments.“

He’s been a consummate professional; he knows this department and he loves this city. I want to thank him for his leadership and his professionalism. He has done an excellent job for the City of Milwaukee.”