CHIEF PRIORITY
City hires first top firefighter in 20 years; ‘I’m honored they let me do this job,’ says Shipman
The last time Mount Clemens had a full-time fire chief, George W. Bush was president of the United States, Tiger Woods dominated the sports world and Russell Crowe’s “Gladiator” was named the year’s best film.
And a firefighter named Gregg Shipman was working his way up through the department’s ranks.
Twenty years later, the Mount Clemens City Commission has named Capt. Shipman as chief of the 12-person fire department. He fills a leadership gap created when the late Michael Coyle retired in May 2000.
“I am the only person here who worked at this under a chief,” Shipman said. “No one else here today was around back then. To go that long without a chief is not a good idea.”
When Coyle left the station on Dickinson Street, his position went unfilled as a cost-savings measure.
The shift captains of Mount Clemens Firefighters Local 838 stepped up to fill that role in emergency management, grant writing and other crucial administrative tasks. Eventually, those duties fell to Shipman who, as senior captain and union president, had the responsibility of a chief
— without the title or authority.
And as a shift commander, the captain has to go on runs for service, medical or fire.
The plan calls for Shipman to retire next month as the contract calls for retirement after 25 years of service. He will then return as a chief, being treated like a private vendor. No negotiations have yet taken place on salary and benefits.
City Manager Donald Johnson said Shipman will work every business day and be in a better position to supervise the three shifts. He will have more time to spend on training, equipment needs, fire prevention and obtaining grants.
Johnson said getting a chief on board had been a goal of Mayor Laura Kropp and the city commissioners.
“The need was recognized by the commission long before I was hired,” Johnson said in an email. “I was told filling the vacant firefighter position and hiring a chief was one of their priorities.”
That fits into the goals established by the National Fire Protection Agency and other firefighting organizations.
Shipman’s laidback style and approachable demeanor has earned him the respect of the fire department and city commissioners.
Mayor Laura Kropp recalled hearing him speak to a crowd with only one hour to prepare. He came through like a proven leader.
“At that moment, I knew he would be an incredible leader,” she said. “I am proud he is leading the department.”
Shipman said the department’s run volume has increased from about 1,000 calls a year when he started to about 3,700 last year. While still protecting the residents and businesses of Mount Clemens and juggling administrative duties “a lot of things fall through the crack,” he added.
“We’ve done a great job at keeping it going, but we can’t keep doing it with our call volume up and manpower levels down,” he said. “We need a person at the top to develop policy. Someone has to be there.”
Shipman, who grew in the area of Crocker Boulevard and Harper Avenue in nearby Harrison Township, was a firefighter there before joining Mount Clemens.
“I love working here,” he said. “I love this town and I’m honored they let me do this job.”
When he becomes chief, a lieutenant will be promoted to fill a vacancy in the captain’s position.
In an unrelated move, the city recently hired Brett Lepley, Noah Lesner and Ricardo Luna as firefighters.