Three months into his new role as Emporia Fire Chief Brandon Beck says the job has been “everything I expected it to be.”
Obviously, Beck says it is a bit more fast-paced than he was previously used to, however, he says things have been running smoothly. Beck attributes the smooth transition largely to his “communication style.”
In terms of major hurdles, Beck originally expected the COVID-19 pandemic to present some challenges, however, he tells KVOE News those expectations have not panned out thus far. One challenge he says the department is still facing is having adequate staff on hand.
Beck credited the recent work of the Emporia City Commission and City Manager Trey Cocking for the work done to both study and address the need for more competitive wages citywide. He says increased salaries will undoubtedly make the city more competitive in the near future.
Beck was named as Emporia’s interim chief last December before being named the permanent chief back in April. He was sworn into his position back in May. Beck is nearing 30 years with the department having begun his career as a volunteer back in 1993.
He replaced Jack Taylor who retired last December after leading the Emporia Fire Department as chief for 21 years.
