Knoxville, Tennessee-- Knoxville's new fire Chief, Robert Key, Sr., was formally sworn in Wednesday evening at the department's downtown headquarters.
Key was promoted from assistant chief within the department. Mayor Bill Haslam announced the promotion earlier in May.
Key, 58, replaces Carlos Perez, who announced his retirement in March. He served as chief for just over a year.
Key, a 30 year veteran of the department, has served as an assistant chief since 1998. He also served as a hazardous materials team leader for eight years and was on the department's accreditation committee.
Key told 6 News after the ceremony, "I've just been in office a week and I am still evaluating the staff and procedures and I will continue to do so and make changes as necessary."
Mayor Bill Haslam said it's time for the department to put the Carlos Perez controversies in the past. He added, "It's a point in time where we need to have somebody who can provide leadership for the department, bring the department together to get us past a few of the bumps that we've had in the road."
Haslam says out of 39 applicants from several states, Key was the front runner for the job.
Key graduated from Fulton High School graduate and is also a U.S. Army veteran. He and his wife, June, have three grown children.
The fire department employs more than 300 firefighters who provide protection, first-response and other services to a 100-square mile area. The department's annual budget for next year is $28.2 million.
Republished with permission of WATE.
