City Council approved the promotion of Deputy Commissioner William Rigby to fire commissioner at Wednesday’s regular meeting. Members of the department stood around the walls of council chambers as Rigby was sworn in by Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland.
Rigby, who has served as deputy commissioner since 2016, fills the position vacated with the recent retirement of Commissioner Travis E. Thomas.
“I’d like to thank (city officials) for giving me this opportunity and entrusting me to lead this fire department to its next chapter,” Rigby said. He thanked for his family for their support, including his father – who had been unable to attend his deputy commissioner appointment due to ill health – who held the Bible for his swearing in.
“Rigby earned – really earned – this position,” said Councilman William “Al” Jacobs, director of public safety. Jacobs recounted he how he was impressed by Rigby’s performance when they met on opposite sides of the negotiating table in 2012.