Stark Takes Over As New Weymouth Fire Chief

Weymouth Fire Capt. Keith Stark was sworn in as the new department chief on Tuesday morning, days after he was appointed the position by Mayor Sue Kay.

The 16 year Weymouth Fire Department veteran succeeds the interim Chief Joseph Davis, who retired Friday. The last permanent chief, Robert Leary, retired in November.

"It's an exciting moment in my life, my family and myself," Stark said on Tuesday. "It's overwhelming right now; it's been a crazy ride the last month. It hasn't even hit me yet.

Stark, 43, grew up in East Weymouth and graduated from Weymouth High School in 1988. 

The veteran firefighter was among six candidates to apply for the position.

Mayor Kay chose Stark over three other finalist including Weymouth Deputy Fire Chiefs Jonathan Tose and Richard Chase.

The Wemouth Mayor said Stark’s overall enthusiasm for his job stuck out during the application process.

“He’s dedicated, he’s devoted to the community and to his department,” Kay said.  “He has a lot of new fresh ideas and we’re expecting new thing from the department.”

Stark will look to bring traditional style of leadership to the department.  He said he would look to be proactive and not reactive.

“I just want to give back the basic principles of firefighting,” he said.

After serving in the US Navy after high school, Stark joined the Weymouth department in 1997, was named Lieutenant in 2005 and appointed Captain in 2009.

Stark's wife, Julie pinned the chief badge on him on Tuesday to make it official. He was sworn in by Town Clerk Kathleen A. Deree in front of family, friends, town officials and fellow firefighters and first responders from neighboring communities.

“It’s a great day for us,” Weymouth veteran firefighter James Jameson said.  “He was always positive, and is an academic in firefighting. I’m glad he was promoted.”