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By David Slone
Times-Union
WARSAW — If the number of hugs and handshakes Joel Shilling received Friday after his ceremonial oath of office as the new Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory chief is any indication, he’s a well-liked individual.
For the ceremony during the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety meeting at City Hall, Friday, May 3, he was surrounded by his mother Shelley, wife Andrea, three boys, other city employees and the WWFT’s firefighters and EMTs. They all took their turn to congratulate him with a hug or handshake after the ceremony.
Shilling was named by Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose as the new chief on April 26, taking over on April 29. He replaces Brian Mayo, who resigned earlier this year effective May 1.
Before giving Shilling the oath, Grose said Shilling had earned the promotion from fire marshal to chief. He became fire marshal about two months ago after Joe Fretz retired. Shilling’s promotion ceremony to fire marshal was April 24.
“Before we begin, I do want to thank the territory for their patience through this process. I want to get back to, though, Joel has earned it. I’m very excited for him. I’m very excited for the territory. He knows life is going to be different for him. He’s also hoping that it will be different for everybody in the territory, for good,” Grose said. “I also know that his family is here. They are also aware of the responsibilities that he is now going to have and that he’s going to have to shoulder. And they’re with him.”
Grose thanked Shilling’s family for attending the ceremony.
Shilling has been with the department since 2016.
He has served his community as a volunteer for Plain Township/Leesburg Fire Department for 12 years, serving as firefighter, lieutenant, captain, assistant chief and most recently as chief, according to a previous release from the mayor’s office.
Shilling is a graduate of Warsaw Community High School and grew up in the Warsaw community. Shilling and his wife of 11 years, Andrea, reside in Leesburg with their three children.
In an interview after Friday’s Board of Works meeting, Shilling said that when the opportunity arose for him to fill the chief position, he took it.
“It’s just kind of the next progression in the fire service. I think a lot of people strive to be the chief, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be presented that option, and I just decided that it was best for the department. I’m excited to be here,” Shilling said.
To be chief at Warsaw, he had to resign as chief at Leesburg last Friday due to conflicts. He still serves as a firefighter for Leesburg.
“Obviously, the budget is a little bit different … but a budget is a budget, and working with all the city leaders and the department heads, they’ve been great and welcomed me aboard and helping me out with any questions that I’ve had. I look forward to just collaborating with everybody in the city and all the department heads,” Shilling said.
He’s not looking to make any changes to the department at this time.
“I’m just trying to learn the position here, get to know everybody I need to know throughout the city and right now there’s no changes brewing,” he said.
The support he’s received from the men and women at the fire territory, along with his family, is something he said he appreciates greatly.
“We have a great group of guys in the department, and I’m very excited for them. I’m very excited for us and the community. We do a tough job and it takes all of us working together to do that job,” Shilling said.
“My wife and three boys are very supportive. They knew that this is what I wanted to do, so they’re very supportive and excited for the future.”
He’s not only excited to get started and learn, but he looks forward to continuing to grow as chief, help out the community and move the department forward.
