Lake Zurich Fire Department promotions for two longtime employees
Two longtime employees have moved up to high-ranking positions at the Lake Zurich Fire Department.
Lt. Rick Johnson was officially elevated to deputy fire chief at a swearing-in ceremony during Monday night's Lake Zurich village board meeting. In turn, firefighter-paramedic Jeff Ritchie took the oath of office for his promotion to lieutenant.
Mayor Thomas Poynton swore in Johnson and Ritchie before roughly 50 spectators who packed the village board meeting room.
Johnson's promotion to deputy chief comes 27 years after he launched his fire service career in Lake Zurich. Poynton told the crowd Johnson, a 22-year lieutenant, came to the village after playing baseball for White Sox organization in 1983 and 1984.
Baseball-reference.com shows Johnson played infield with three teams in rookie and Class A ball, compiling a .232 lifetime batting average.
Poynton said Johnson was in a group of 10 firefighters who were the first to be hired full time by Lake Zurich in 1989.
"As a result, Rick had a personal involvement in fashioning virtually every aspect of the department's operation," Poynton said.
Johnson thanked the crowd for attending his swearing-in ceremony and spoke of how he's grateful for the bonds that form among firefighters.
"It's a big deal," he said of being in the tight-knit fraternity. "It's something you get on Day 1 of the fire department. It stays with you forever. So, I've got immediate family here and I've got my brothers and sisters in the back there. And you are all very important to me and I couldn't be in this position without you."
Johnson has a bachelor's degree in fire service management from Southern Illinois University. He's on track to complete a master's degree in public safety and Homeland Security management from SIU in April, followed by postgraduate studies through Johns Hopkins University starting in January 2017, Poynton said.
Ritchie joined department in January 1997. He expressed gratitude for his promotion to lieutenant.
Poynton said Ritchie has been involved in active in fire department public education programs during his Lake Zurich career.