Battalion Chief Long Gives Parting Advice to New Leaders of SAFD

SAN ANGELO, TX- Crowds of citizens attended the promotion and retirement ceremony for the San Angelo Fire Department this afternoon at the Central Fire Station, 306 W 1st St.  

Fire Chief Dunn started by administering the oath of office to nine of the fireman receiving promotions. 

These are the names and their new positions:

Battalion Chief: Patrick Brody

Captains: Zane Teutsch and Stacy Wright

Lieutenants: Dan Bowling and Aaron Flint

Drivers: Larry Hill, David Geron, Logan Mikeska, and Jason Strube

For the retirees, Battalion Chief Ricky Long, Captain J. Corbett, and Drivers Keith Stinnett and Rickey Griffin were among the four who were honored for their service. Stinnett was out of town during the ceremony.  

Dunn said more than 142 years of experience was leaving the department today, and he wishes them all the best for their retirement.

“Having a retirement ceremony is a way to show [our] appreciation for the job that these guys did,” Dunn said.

Regarding the new promotions, Battalion Chief Long gave words of encouragement for the new leader and encouraged all who he had trained to continue showing their passion for service.

“Their training level is second to none and their enthusiasm is great,” Long said. “They are going to develop into some fine officers.”

Regarding what he will be doing in his retirement, Long said he will look after five houses, nine grandchildren, and plans on building a lot of children’s furniture.  

Patrick Brody will be Long’s replacement as Battalion Chief. Long accumulated 40 years of service to the department. 

Stacy Wright, newly promoted to captain, talked about the excitement of taking on this new role within the department.

“We are the future leaders of the department so we have to take that responsibility seriously,” Wright said. “It’s exciting, and a new move in a new direction.”  

The advice that Wright took from Long’s speech is to work hard, treat others fairly, and always do the best that you can for your team and the City.