Salem Fire Chief To Retire After 38 Years On Job

SALEM, MA — Salem Fire Chief John "Gerry" Giunta will retire from the department after 38 years next month.

Giunta, who has served as fire chief since 2018, said in a statement: "I was able to help people throughout my career with the possibility that every day I could save a life."

"What an incredible responsibility to have," he said. "I tried my best throughout my career to be ready for that day and I feel that every first responder should welcome this challenge by being the best they can be every single day.

"I would also like the public to know that none of us serve alone. We are a family that lives this together and our spouses and children and our extended family share our sacrifice when we are not there for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and other meaningful events."

Giunta's last day is set for Feb. 26.

Giunta joined the department in 1983 and was elevated to lieutenant three years later. He was a captain in the department from 1993 to 2007, and deputy chief from 2007 until his appointment as chief three years ago.

He was also a member of FEMA's Massachusetts Urban Search and Rescue Task Force for 12 years, with deployments in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irene and Katrina, the 2011 Western Mass. tornadoes, the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing and New York City following the 9/11 attacks.

In the past year, Giunta was part of the city's COVID Response Task Force.

"Salem and the Salem Fire Department are better for having had Gerry in the many roles he has held in the department for the last nearly four decades of his service," Mayor Kim Driscoll said. "He's been a steady hand leading the department during incredibly challenging times. Chief Giunta has earned the respect and admiration of the men and women of the Salem Fire Department and the gratitude of the people of Salem. He has made our community safer, stronger, and better for all who live, work, learn and visit here."

"Thank you to all that I have had the honor to serve with," Giunta said. "I can't thank you enough for your support. To everyone involved with the city of Salem, we are all in this together and the more that we give of ourselves the more that our entire community gains as a whole.

"Thank you for the opportunity to serve. It has been quite an honor!"

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)