San Jose's fire chief is making a true parent's sacrifice.
In an exclusive interview with NBC11 news partners at the San Jose Mercury News, Jeff Clet said he will step down so his 23-year-old son, Steven, can join the department.
Clet will take a nearly $40,000-per-year pay cut by resigning as chief and become a battalion chief in the department.
A nepotism rule adopted last year prevented Clet's son from getting a job in the department as long as his dad was chief.
Clet told the Mercury News: "This is a decision I made as a father looking out for a son who had done a lot of hard work and prepared himself and deserved an opportunity... to start his life and serve San Jose."
Former Fire Chief Vince Clet, Jeff's father, hired him in 1981 when there was no nepotism rule in the department.
Clet's last day as chief will be next Tuesday. He told the newspaper he will likely retire within five years.
Assistant Chief Daryl Von Raesfeld will take over as interim chief.
Clet is a San Jose native whose father served as fire chief from 1978 to 1983.
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