The leader of Detroit's beleagured fire department today announced his retirement effective Friday.
Edsel Jenkins was appointed executive fire commissioner in April 2014 by Mayor Mike Duggan. Jenkins had been a city firefighter for nearly 30 years. Just last month, he got tearful at the announcement of a new partnership between Detroit and its schools, a two-year pilot project to train high school students to become firefighters and paramedics in the city by the time they graduate.
"I started in this department as a firefighter at the age of 19 and am grateful that I had the privilege of serving as its Executive Commissioner," Jenkins said in a statement released by Duggan's office. "I look forward to spending more time with my family."
No reason for the retirement decision was given. Jenkins, 57, couldn't be reached for comment. The announcement came just weeks before the citywide Angels Night mobilization against arson.
Duggan thanked Jenkins for his decades of service to the Fire Department and the citizens of Detroit.
"I want to thank Commissioner Jenkins for his 29 years of service to the Detroit Fire Department and the citizens of Detroit," Duggan said. "The program he started to train Detroit high school students as firefighters and EMTs will benefit the department for years to come. I wish him well in his retirement."
Duggan said he would announce an interim fire commissioner later this week.
Jenkins had a good relationship with the City Council, Councilwoman Mary Sheffield said.
"He was very, very responsive -- accessible," Sheffield said. "He was a good example to me of how you can work your way up through a department through hard work."
Sheffield said Jenkins is a "respected gentleman" who was hands-on and community-focused as fire chief. She said she was surprised to hear of his retirement.
Council President Brenda Jones could not be reached for comment. Stephen Grady, Jones' chief of staff, said, "I love Edsel Jenkins."
Jenkins was a Detroit firefighter from 1997 to 2003. He retired then and became a certified public accountant and consultant to the auto industry. He rejoined the fire department as deputy fire commissioner in 2012.
The department has been through turbulent times in recent years, with outdated equipment and aging vehicles hampering firefighters' ability to get to fires in a timely way. The city has been making some progress on that front, spending millions on new rigs, gear and ambulances. Detroit at one point also had dismally slow ambulance response times of greater than 18 minutes; response times stood at 8 minutes and 44 seconds as of last week, according to Duggan's office.
Contact Matt Helms: 313-222-1450 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @matthelms.
