AKRON, Ohio — Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan has named a new fire chief.
A 30-year Akron Fire veteran, Chief Joseph Natko immediately assumes chief responsibilities, with a formal swearing in expected in the next few weeks, the city said in a release.
The city undertook a search to fill the vacancy left when Fire Chief Clarence Tucker was appointed Deputy Mayor for Public Safety in September
Although the search returned applications from around the country, the best candidate was Natko, who becomes the city’s 20th chief, Horrigan said.
“I firmly believe our Akron Fire Department is one of the best across the state and to maintain that unparalleled level of service to the community requires an experienced and dedicated leader,” Horrigan said. “I am confident that Chief Natko is the right person to lead this department and he will bring his integrity, heart for service, and commitment to the city of Akron to all he does in this well-deserved promotion.”
Natko began as a fire fighter/medic in 1991, followed by promotions to lieutenant in 1997, captain in 2005, provisional district chief in 2011, district chief in 2015 and most recently deputy chief, the city said.
Natko said he is humbled to serve as the city’s next fire chief.
“Our firefighters and paramedics are truly an outstanding workforce, and it will be my honor to serve with them as we move Akron Fire forward in its commitment to the community,” he said.
During his career, Natko has been responsible for launching and managing several programs, among them an Electronic Patient Care Reporting Program, the city’s Opiate Quick Response Team and PulsePoint, a civilian CPR alert system.
The new chief is a graduate of Leadership Akron Class 35, a program in which select local leaders work together on strengthening social services, health care, education and justice.
Natko holds an associate’s degree in technical studies from Stark State College and earned his Ohio Fire Executive certification in 2014.