Kenneth Ellerbe will be D.C.'s Next Fire & EMS Chief

Mayor-elect Vincent Gray had his thunder stolen when Sarasota County Officials announced its Fire Chief, Kenneth Ellerbe, is leaving his position to take a job with the District of Columbia Fire & EMS Department. Gray is set to announce his Public Safety Appointments for his new administration at a pres conference Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

The Washington D.C. Deputy Fire Chief, Ken Crosswhite, said no official announcement has been made by the D.C. Fire Department. 

"The new mayor has put together a new transition team and public safety is one of those things," Crosswhite said.  "At this time time the fire company has no idea."

Ellerbe came to Sarasota and accepted the position in July 2009. Before coming to Sarasota, Ellerbe worked for the D.C. Fire Department,  WarrenRichardson of Sarasota County Media Relations said. 

Ellerbe's last day in Sarasota and first in D.C., according to Richardson, has not been announced.