VIDEO: Sharon and Dewayne Smoots are making history and breaking barriers. They are considered the first husband and wife duo to hold two of the highest-ranking positions within the Milwaukee Fire Department.
Dewayne joined the Milwaukee Fire Department 35 years ago after a long career with the state's justice department. “When I came on, we didn't have any Black teams at all. And that, for it being now, three assistant chiefs are African-American. And I got to share this with my wife,” said Dewayne. Sharon joined the fire department in 2003. She was the first Black woman to do so. “I graduated in August, became a firefighter, eventually moved up through the ranks last year... It let me know and show others that this is possible," said Sharon.