The City of Rochelle is pleased to announce that Dave Sawlsville has been appointed as Fire Chief, filling the vacancy left by former chief Brian Johnson who retired last fall.
Chief Sawlsville started with the Department as a paid-on-call firefighter in the summer of 1980 and has been with the department ever since. In August of 1987, he was hired on as a full-time firefighter and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2002. He holds an A.S. Degree in Fire Science and a B.S. Degree in Behavioral Science and is a graduate of two National Fire Academy programs.
“The City of Rochelle is fortunate to have Chief Sawlsville, a lifelong Rochelle resident, who has spent his entire career studying and gaining experience in the fire service and emergency medical fields,” said City Manager Dave Plyman.
Sawlsville has spent time both as an acting chief for the department during a leave of absence and as interim chief giving him many months of experience in the position. He has been a flight medic for ten years and a paramedic instructor for fifteen. He holds a leadership position with the State’s Emergency Medical Response Team and is a member of the Illinois Incident Management Team.
“You spend a third of your life at work so I believe it should be spent doing something you enjoy. Thirty-five years later, I know I made a good choice. I enjoyed my job back then and still do today,” said Sawlsville. Our new chief looks forward to continuing on with current projects at the department including bringing a new engine into service soon.
Chief Sawlsville and his wife Laura reside in Rochelle and enjoy seven children and nine grandchildren.