Wheelock sworn in as new Lake Zurich fire chief

Lake Zurich officially has a new fire chief, though he isn't really new to the department or the town.

David Wheelock was sworn in as fire chief at a ceremony Monday night after working for the village for 32 years, spending 20 years as the second in command and working as the interim chief since July.

Despite his decades of experience, Wheelock, a lifelong resident of Lake Zurich, said the official swearing-in still feels like the start of a whole new job.

“This is the culmination of a career,” he said. “Not everyone that starts a job and says they want to get to the top, actually gets there.”

But Wheelock, who started working as a fire department cadet while at Lake Zurich High School and became a paramedic after graduating, said he had his eye on this top job for a long time.

Wheelock was set to be sworn in at Monday's Lake Zurich village board meeting, but the meeting was canceled because there weren't enough trustees for a quorum.

So, Mayor Suzanne Branding led Wheelock through the oath of office at a ceremony at the Lake Zurich fire station in front of friends, family and the entire fire department.

“It's a little bit of the American dream story because he grew up here,” Branding said.

Branding said she has known Wheelock for the past four years and is confident he'll continue to lead the department and set a good example for the community.

“I think he's great, he is really seasoned,” she said. “The biggest thing he'll bring is stability. He'll be good at implementing new procedures and technology and the transition has been seamless.”

Wheelock follows Terry Mastandrea who spent 34 years in the fire service, including 21 as Lake Zurich fire chief. Mastandrea retired on July 15.

Wheelock's father was in town from Michigan for the ceremony and said he couldn't find the words to describe how proud he was of his son.

“It's unbelievable,” Edward Wheelock said. “For me to see all the people he has behind him. He loves his job and I know he'll do a good job for this department.”

Four of Wheelock's five children were able to attend the swearing-in ceremony, only missing his son who is serving in the military and is stationed in South Korea.

“It is so well-deserved,” said Wheelock's wife, Catherine, who pinned on his badge during the ceremony. “He's a hero on the job and at home. He's the strength of our family.”

Though Catherine said all of the attention can be overwhelming, her husband has taken it in stride.

“He's very well respected in the department,” she said. “I don't think you could find a better leader.”