Paul Polep
Evanston,IL
Summary
With 33 years of experience in the fire service, including the role of Fire Chief, and advanced education in Fire Science along with relevant certifications, I am excited about the opportunity to become Fire Chief for the Wauconda Fire District. My objective is to leverage my strong leadership abilities, strategic management skills, and unwavering dedication to community service to enhance the safety, efficiency, and progress of the Wauconda Fire District.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Fire Chief
City of Evanston
09.1996 - Current
- Successfully managed and supervised a team of 115 sworn personnel stationed at multiple fire stations including a headquarters and prevention bureau. Efficiently coordinated activities of 120 seasonal lifeguards to maintain the highest safety standards for Evanston's beaches while handling over 11,500 incidents annually.
- Achieved an ISO 1 rating.
- Demonstrated effective management of a $22 million budget.
- Increased staffing to support a third ambulance.
- Implemented Field Chief of Special Operations and Field Chief of EMS.
- Fostered strong interdepartmental partnerships to enhance community services
- Enhanced mental health support and operational efficiency for firefighters.
- Developed and sustained a productive partnership with Local 742, a highly regarded union in the state
- Implemented best practices, policies, and procedures to ensure alignment with regulations and operational needs.
Firefighter/Paramedic
McHenry Township Fire Protection District
01.1991 - 01.2015
- Experienced fire service professional who advanced from a probationary member to positions including Firefighter, Paramedic, Lieutenant, and Duty Officer
- Consistently achieved positive outcomes in both fire and EMS emergency situations, highlighting a strong dedication to enhancing departmental operations.
- Successfully implemented fair duty sign-up system and developed efficient numbering system for dispatch, resulting in enhanced response accuracy and coordination
- Consistently sought innovative solutions to optimize performance and service delivery within the fire department.
Education
Associate degree in Fire Science -
McHenry County College
12.2003
Skills
- Firefighting operations
- Incident Command
- Workload prioritization
- Fire suppression
- Emergency Management
- Emergency Medical Services
- Labor Management
- Contract enforcement
- Adaptability and Flexibility
Certification
- OSFM Chief Fire Officer (CFO) - 02/01/21
- OSFM Incident Safety Officer (ISO) - 06/21/24
- IDPH EMT-P - 1995 to current
- NIMS 100
- NIMS 200
- NIMS 300
- NIMS 400
- NIMS 700
- NIMS 800
- Many other certifications upon request.
Awards
- MTFPD- firefighter of the year
- Evanston-2 Craig Stiles company awards (2nd highest award in the department)
- Evanston- Water rescue award
- Evanston- Special rescue award
- Evanston-Emergency Medical Service award
Timeline
Fire Chief
City of Evanston
09.1996 - Current
Firefighter/Paramedic
McHenry Township Fire Protection District
01.1991 - 01.2015
Associate degree in Fire Science -
McHenry County College
- OSFM Chief Fire Officer (CFO) - 02/01/21
- OSFM Incident Safety Officer (ISO) - 06/21/24
- IDPH EMT-P - 1995 to current
- NIMS 100
- NIMS 200
- NIMS 300
- NIMS 400
- NIMS 700
- NIMS 800
- Many other certifications upon request.
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