Melanie Rucker Named Interim Fire Chief in Minneapolis
An interim fire chief has been named as Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner it set to retire this week.
Assistant Fire Chief Melanie Rucker was named interim fire chief Monday by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Rucker has served with the department for 26 years, rising through the ranks, including captain, battalion chief and deputy chief. Rucker was most recently assistant chief and served as the public information officer. She entered the department in 1999.
“Chief Rucker has earned the trust and respect of this department and our city over more than two decades of service,” Frey said. “She’s a steady, experienced leader who understands what it takes to keep Minneapolis safe, support our firefighters, and move the department forward. I’m grateful she’s stepping into this role and confident the Fire Department will remain in strong hands during this transition.”
Rucker is the city's second female fire chief and first African American woman to lead the Minneapolis Fire Department, according to Frey.
“I am honored by the trust placed in me by Commissioner Barnette, Mayor Frey, and the City of Minneapolis,” Rucker stated. I am committed to providing steady leadership and to supporting our firefighters, to ensure we continue to deliver the highest level of service to the community and to maintain the strong relationships this department and Chief Tyner have built with our community and stakeholders. The priority will remain safety and prevention by proactively working with the community to reduce risks to life, property, and the environment.”
Minneapolis launched a nationwide search for their next fire chief in the fall, when Tyner resigned. In a statement, the city said: "Given that the Minneapolis Fire Department is the largest in the Upper Midwest and plays a critical role in the State of Minnesota’s special operations response, City leaders believe a nationwide search is warranted."
“I can’t thank Interim Fire Chief Rucker enough for her willingness to accept this position and for her continued dedication to the Minneapolis Fire Department,” Minneapolis Office of Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette said. “Her leadership and commitment to the safety of our City and its firefighters will be invaluable as we search for someone to permanently fill the role.”
Tyner's last day is Wednesday, and he will leave the department after a 30-year career. He was named fire chief in 2020.
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Peter Matthews
Editor-in-Chief/Conference Director
Peter Matthews is the conference director and editor-in-chief of Firehouse. He has worked at Firehouse since 1999, serving in various roles on both Firehouse Magazine and Firehouse.com staffs. He completed an internship with the Rochester, NY, Fire Department and served with fire departments in Rush, NY, and Laurel, MD, and was a lieutenant with the Glenwood Fire Company in Glenwood Landing, NY. Matthews served as photographer for the St. Paul, MN, Fire Department and currently is a photographer for the Fort Worth, TX, Fire Department.