JACKSON, Mich. — A Mich. city police chief will now also double as the city’s fire chief.
Jackson Chief of Police Matthew Heins has been the city’s acting Chief of the Jackson Fire Department since January 2011 when the chief at the time left, according to WILX.
Chief Heins officially became the head of both departments Tuesday night when the City Council voted to approve the motion.
“It’s functioned well. I’ve been well received at the fire department,” Chief Heins said. “I did attend the fire academy early on so I could have a better understanding of the job requirements of a firefighter. It certainly doesn’t give me a deep understanding, but it definitely gives me a cursory understanding.”
Ever since taking the post as acting fire chief, the city council tracked Heins’ progress and thought that the set-up would continue to work.
“We’re doing what we can to cut costs and consolidate different departments, and make sure that the city is fiscally healthy,” Councilman Derek Dobies told WILX.
The city of Jackson has tried having one person lead both departments in the 1970s, but after a year, it was split back into two positions again.
Chief Heins will not receive a pay raise because of his new title, and officials say that there is still room to change if the set up does not work well.