Palatine fire chief to retire in June

Palatine Fire Chief Norman Malcolm takes pride in knowing residents are a little safer than when he took over the post 10 years ago.

Malcolm, 59, has announced he'll retire June 2 after a 33-year firefighting career.

"My kids are graduating college and I don't have any more big checks to write," Malcolm joked. "It's just time."

In addition to increasing the staff to 96 sworn firefighters, Malcolm oversaw the construction of the Palatine Road fire station. A $1 million grant helped fund the project, which came in on time and just under its $2 million budget.

The department also took over the Dundee Road station - its fifth - from the Palatine Rural Fire Protection District after the village annexed a chunk of the district's territory and accompanying tax revenue.

"We were able to get past that and work cooperatively to develop a new partnership," Malcolm, a Palatine resident, said.

Plans are in the works to relocate that station to Quentin Road just south of Dundee Road, a spot that would improve response times to northwest Palatine. The village acquired the land and Malcolm hopes to get to work on a design.

Since Malcolm became chief, Palatine formed mutual-response agreements with all its neighbors. The department is also in the process of negotiating its first contract with the firefighters union.

Malcolm said he wants to travel and spend time with his six children and four grandchildren. He hopes his successor comes from within the department, which serves about 66,000 residents within 14 square miles. The village manager's appointment is approved by the council.

"We've got a very talented, trained and educated work force," Malcolm said. "We're prepared for whatever comes our way."