Northbrook Fire Chief Announces Retirement

NORTHBROOK, IL — Fire Chief Jose M. Torres announced he will be retiring, effective December 31, 2017. Chief Torres joined the Northbrook Fire Department in February 2015 with over 34 years of experience. He began his firefighting career with the United States Air Force serving as a Firefighter and Assistant Chief for Training. Later, Torres served with the City of Ventura, California Fire Department for seven years and with the Santa Monica, California Fire Department, for 18 years before coming to Northbrook.

“During my time in Northbrook, we accomplished many wonderful things to serve the community and the people of Northbrook," Torres said. "Including community CPR classes and public fire and life safety education as an example.”

During his tenure, Torres worked with community leaders, village staff and the local railroads to enhance Emergency Preparedness. Torres updated the village’s Emergency Operations Plan, revised policies and procedures to improve safety and staffing needs, provided oversight to the team that helped attain an Insurance Services Office (ISO) Class-1 rating for the Village, and served on various regional boards and commissions – including the Northbrook Fire Pension Board and the Regional Emergency Dispatch (RED) Center as the Chairman for the Joint Chief’s Authority. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Northbrook — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

“Chief Torres brought a wealth of experience to the Village when he joined us in 2015,” said Village Manager Rich Nahrstadt. “He has served the residents and businesses of Northbrook with honor and dignity and I thank him for his thoughtfulness and dedication. We wish him and his wife Leanna well in their future endeavors.”

The Village of Northbrook announced Friday it will be conducting a search to select its next Fire Chief.

» via the Village of Northbrook

_{Top photo: Chief Jose Torres | Village of Northbrook}