Fire District Appoints New Chief

The Board of Trustees appointed Assistant Fire Chief Howard Stephens as the Fire District’s new chief on March 27.

The appointment was expected as part of a succession plan that began last year in anticipation of Fire Chief Ted Golden's retirement.

On March 13, at the Mokena Fire Protection District Board of Trustees’ meeting, Golden announced his plans to retire on June 1 after 32 years with the department.

Golden, a lifelong resident of Mokena, joined the Mokena Volunteer Fire Department in June of 1980. Golden was hired as the Fire District’s second full-time employee in June of 1983 as its Code Enforcement Officer. Golden rose through the ranks of engineer, lieutenant and was promoted to assistant fire chief in 1984.

Golden was appointed fire chief in September of 1991 replacing Fire Chief Delbert Yunker.

During Chief Golden’s tenure, the Fire District has been Internationally Accredited by the Center for Public Safety Excellence in 2002, 2007 and again on March 6, 2012.

Chief Golden was also re-designated as chief fire officer by the Commission on Professional Credentialing on March 6, 2012. The District also built three firestations, improved the Fire District fire insurance rating from a Class 5 to a Class 3 and increased its staffing from seven employees to 33 during his tenure.

Board President William Haas, who was seated two years after Golden's promotion to chief after having worked as a volunteer firefighter, said he was happy for Golden but sad to see him go. Golden, he noted, was only the district's eighth chief since its organization in 1917.

— Mokena Fire District press release

— Comments from William Haas provided by Patch Reporter Jesse Marx