Delray Beach is hiring a new fire chief after the previous chief was fired

Ronald Martin started as chief of the Delray Beach Fire Department on October 7. He spent 13 years with the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District.

Ronald Martin has been appointed as Delray Beach’s new fire chief after a five-month search.
Martin, who has 33 years of fire service experience, previously served as chief of safety for the Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal.
He replaces Keith Tomey, who was fired in May following an independent investigation into allegations of harassment and retaliation he filed against City Manager Terrence Moore.
Martin’s appointment was announced by Moore on September 13 and he officially began his new role on October 7.

DELRAY BEACH — After about five months under an interim fire department chief, Delray Beach permanently filled Ronald Martin’s role in mid-September.

City Manager Terrence Moore announced that the selection process needed to appoint a new fire chief was completed on September 13, while Martin began on October 7.

“It is a privilege to be part of such a dedicated, committed and talented team,” Martin said in an Oct. 8 letter to Delray Beach that he shared with The Palm Beach Post. “I look forward to working with community members as we continue to serve our community with excellence.”

Martin succeeds former Delray Beach Fire Rescue Chief Keith Tomey. Tomey’s employment was terminated May 1 after an independent investigation found claims of harassment and retaliatory behavior against Moore, the city manager, to be unsubstantiated.

Before joining Delray Beach, Martin served as Chief of Safety for the Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal. He also served as fire chief and district manager for the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District, spending 13 years with the department, according to Martin’s resume.

“After 33 years in the fire service, I have seen firsthand the impact strong community collaboration and partnerships can have on the lives of those we serve,” said Martin. “Delray Beach is known for its vibrant community and rich diversity, and I am eager to build on its strong foundation.”

A native of northwest Indiana, Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Hodges University and a master’s degree in homeland security and emergency management from Long Island University. He has experience with disaster response procedures, annual budgets and quality assurance, according to his resume.

Martin’s vision upon inception is that the city’s firefighting operation will focus on collaboration, innovation, data-driven decision making, fiscal responsibility and transparency, he said.

“I believe that by fostering a common culture of collaboration and open communication, we can increase our operational effectiveness and engage our community as active partners in overall security,” said Martin.

In the coming weeks, Martin hopes to engage with community members and stakeholders to ensure his department’s services meet their needs and expectations, he said.

The interview panel Martin selected included Assistant City Manager Jeff Oris, Police Chief Russ Mager, Public Works Director Mission Barletto, Development Services Director Anthea Gianniotes and City Attorney Lynn Gelin.

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After Tomey was fired, Kevin Green served as interim chief. Green returned to his role as assistant chief on Monday, when Martin started.

City officials ultimately determined the three alleged incidents of retaliation and the incident of alleged harassment by Tomey could not be proven.

In late June, Tomey filed a lawsuit against the city of Delray Beach, claiming he was wrongfully fired. The lawsuit, filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court, alleged that Tomey’s rights were violated under the Florida Public Sector Whistleblower Act, which is intended to prevent agencies from retaliating against employees who report violations of the law. the Florida Senate said. It also alleged a breach of Tomey’s contract with Delray Beach Fire Rescue.

Jasmine Fernández is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasmijnfernandz. Support our work. Subscribe today.

Delray Beach is hiring a new fire chief after the previous chief was fired

Ronald Martin started as chief of the Delray Beach Fire Department on October 7. He spent 13 years with the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District.

By Sheisoe

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Delray Beach is hiring a new fire chief after the previous chief was fired

Ronald Martin started as chief of the Delray Beach Fire Department on October 7. He spent 13 years with the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District.

By Sheisoe

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