On Wednesday, Firefighter/Paramedic James Acker was promoted to the position of assistant fire chief with the Watertown Fire Department. Acker will serve in the capacity as the department's EMS director, taking over for fire Chief Kraig Biefeld. Acker is a 14-year veteran with the department and served as union president for 11 years. He has been instrumental with the development of a Health and Wellness program, as well as numerous departmental projects. Fire Chief Biefeld states, "Jim is a committed individual that gives freely of his time to the department, the members and the community. Jim has showed leadership in all that he does."