On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, the Chicago Heights City Council unanimously approved the appointment of former Interim Chicago Heights Fire Chief, Tom Kennedy, to the city’s Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

Kennedy, who served as the city’s interim fire chief from January 2015 until January 2016, is filling a vacancy on the board left by the death last year of BOFP Commissioner Juan Briseño. 

Kennedy also served for 35 years as a battalion chief with the Chicago Fire Department.

“Tom Kennedy is a dedicated public servant who has decades of experience as a first responder and is supremely qualified to serve on the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners,” said Mayor David Gonzalez. “I am deeply grateful to Tom for his willingness to step up and once again serve Chicago Heights by lending his expertise to the panel.”

Kennedy, who currently works at the Chicago Transit Authority as a general manager for fire protection, response and safety training, will serve a three-year term on the Chicago Heights BOFP.