FDL Fire Chief O’Leary Retiring April 13, 2022

It looks like there will be more time for grilling and golfing for Fire Chief Peter O’Leary in the near future.

Fond du Lac City Manager Joe Moore issued a statement Friday afternoon, saying Fire Chief Peter O’Leary will be retiring as of April 13, 2022.

In the statement sent to KFIZ News, Moore said “the City wishes to celebrate and thank Chief Peter O’Leary for his 13 plus years of service to the City of Fond du Lac and congratulate him on his upcoming retirement on April 13, 2022.

“Chief O’Leary began his career in Fire Service in 1979. He served as a Firefighter in Wheaton, IL and St. Charles, IL and as a Fire Chief in Durham, NH before accepting the Fond du Lac Chief’s Position in 2009.

Chief O’Leary’s career with Fond du Lac has numerous and lasting accomplishments including:

For the first time in the city’s history the City of Fond du Lac Fire Department achieved the industry’s benchmark for excellence, CFAI (Commission on Fire Accreditation International) Accreditation in 2015
and then re-accreditation in 2021.

The City of Fond du Lac attained IOS 1 (Insurance Services Office) status, the gold standard, in 2016, also for the first time in the city’s history and continues to maintain that status.

Chief O’Leary led the effort to develop a state of the art Public Safety Training Facility, which enhanced the training capability and the performance of the entire department.

Chief O’Leary led the development of a facility modernization plan that resulted in substantial improvements in the city’s three fire stations.

Chief O’Leary also led the development of an equipment modernization plan that resulted in the acquisition of superior communications equipment, fire engines, ladder trucks and ambulances.

Two of Chief O’Leary’s leadership team have gone on to become Fire Chiefs – Steve Beer in Hutchinson, KS and Troy Haase in Portage, WI.

Chief O’Leary set the standard for media relations through the use of social media and has taught other Fire Departments how to do the same.
Chief O’Leary’s service to the people of Fond du Lac has set a standard of excellence and an enduring legacy of superb leadership.

In a social media post Friday afternoon, Chief O’Leary said:

” I am very happy to share that I have announced my retirement from the fire service effective April 13, 2022. The past 42 years (33 career) and 9 paid-on call have truly been a a gift from God. As a little boy I dreamt of being a firefighter and during my senior year of high school I was lucky enough to earn a spot on the Wheaton Fire Department. After nearly 10 years as a POC I started my career service (1988-91)in St. Charles, IL.  After three years I moved back to Wheaton where I served as a career firefighter (1991-2006) attaining the rank to Battalion Chief.  In 2006 I got hired as chief of the Durham, NH Fire Department where I spent three years. In January 2009, I  took over as chief in Fond du Lac, WI and for the past 13+ years I have been challenged and rewarded beyond measure.

I have countless people to thank, too many to name, but you all know who you are. To my wife Bobbie, and my kids Michael and Thomas thank you for enduring my career which had us move from Illinois to New Hampshire and then on to Wisconsin.  My parents, siblings and extended family, thank you for helping me stay grounded.

Although I am still ironing out my next book (no new chapter) I will do so with gratitude and a full heart.  Thank you to all of you that have been part of this journey, I am grateful. “