Retirement Planning & Resources
Retirement is often difficult for firefighters, unprepared for the sense of identity loss
Brownstown Township Fire Department Fire Chief Jeff Drouillard prepares to retire, calling his tenure a “privilege to serve”
The House passed the Social Security Fairness Act to remove penalties on police and other public servants with separate pensions
Carol Berghaus made a dramatic career change at age 42 when she went from a dental assistant to a firefighter
Jack Piccinini worked his last shift for the Santa Rosa Fire Department Monday after 41 years of service; he will start a new role as the interim fire chief for Central Fire Authority
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said the negotiated deal will provide protection to first responders and save money; it must still pass a special election ballot put to voters
The bill would provide benefits to the families of public safety officials killed in the line of duty
They received punishments ranging from reprimands, suspensions and probationary periods
They broke through the trailer’s siding and found the woman on a bed in cardiac arrest; they pulled her outside and started CPR
The 73-year-old man hit a patch of ice, which made his car veer off the road and land upside down in a frozen pond
He honored retired firefighter Ray Pfeifer, who spent months digging through World Trade Center debris searching for firefighters’ remains, with a key to the city
Ralph Black served for 27 years at the New Haven Fire Department and retired in 2014 after eight years as assistant chief of operations
John Sauro hurt his shoulder while on the job and has gone through a lengthy court battle for his pension
Keron Larkin was rescued by firefighters after his wife told them he was inside; he suffered smoke inhalation
The boy, now 29, met retired Capt. Don Kosen over the weekend; he gave Capt. Kosen a hug and thanked him for saving his life
Chief John B. Stewart Jr., a 40-year veteran, was the first African American fire chief when he took over the department in 1980
David Wheeler illegally collected a $60,000 salary as a part-time chief, while also deceiving the retirement system by collecting his $137,000-a-year pension
Roger Lippincott, 79, retired from firefighting 20 years ago but was still an honorary member at the department
He was planning to have a low-key birthday and was surprised when the community and firefighters rallied to throw him a party
The chief, who was in the area at the time, saw the vehicle and provided care and comfort to the trapped man while they waited for firefighters to respond
Several firefighters, current and retired, said there were many issues that led to the decision to disband the 134-year-old organization
The retired firefighter was in possession of a 12-inch knife when he joined what he thought was the pontiff’s convoy; he was charged with criminal trespass
Lt. James Brown said he started with the fire department when he was 18, but he has been around the firehouse his whole life
Carla Blue worked for the Prince George’s County Fire Department for 20 years before retiring in October 2009
Steve Voegtli, 63, suffers from dementia and was last seen leaving a retirement living center on Aug. 12
Edward Yatscoff started writing short stories for his children and has written six young reader novels so far
The city’s moving from a pension to a 401(k)-style retirement plan has many firefighters taking jobs with other departments
Firefighter and Army veteran Philo Gravitt said he was walking his dogs when the unexpected happened
The 60-year-old man, John Gocke, retired from the sheriff’s department at the rank of captain in 2004
A 27-year fire service veteran received a letter from the U.S. Treasury Department saying he owed nearly $27,000
Oscar “Sox” Lee, 92, taught crews fire science and firefighting tactics; he spent 50 years as a firefighter
Retired firefighter Lawrence Drake, 48, revived a woman, her pregnant daughter and an 8-year-old boy
Firefighter Craig Buccieri collapsed and went into cardiac arrest at the scene; he was revived by medics en route to the hospital
