10:00am Thursday | The position for Chief of the Long Beach Fire Department is officially open to any candidate holding the rank of Battalion Chief or higher “in a municipal metropolitan Fire Department in California serving a population of at least 250,000,” according to the City of Long Beach’s open position posting form.
The initial recruitment is being run by Teri Black & Associates, and candidates can apply to TBCrecruiting.com. The salary offered will depend on qualification and experience, though the mid-point of the salary range is $171,000 per year.
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5:30pm Wednesday | The search for a new Chief of the Long Beach Fire Department has been extended outside the department to include candidates from across the state of California, the lbpost.com has learned.
Long Beach human resources director Debbie Mills confirmed the information this afternoon, and also mentoned that an open position listing will be posted tomorrow. Candidates interested in the job can apply until March 21, Mills said.
Chief Dave Ellis retired in December 2009 due to illness, after more than five years in the position and 27 years with the Long Beach Fire Department.
Similarly, City Manager Pat West came under fire recently for extending the search for a new Chief of the Long Beach Police Department to include candidates from outside of the department. Former Los Angeles Police Department First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell was named the new LBPD Chief a few weeks ago, and the Press-Telegram has reported recently that President of the Police Officers Association Steve James lobbied to have West fired largely due to that decision.