St. Joe Fire Chief Quits

Over the years, the residents of St. Joseph Township have described the local fire department as chaotic and disorganized.

Well, more questions now surface as the newly appointed fire chief quit, nearly two-months after taking the job.  

David ringer is the new chief of the St. Joseph fire rescue.  He says the station hasn't lost any of its volunteer firefighter's since the change in command and he plans on moving ahead. 

Back in December St. Joseph township trustee Richard Uhrick decided to break up the 60-year old St. Joseph Fire Department and start a new fire corporation controlled by a 5-member board. 

Tim Jones was selected as chief of the new department but he resigned earlier this week. 

"He resigned as fire chief in a positive manner," said David Ringer. 

David Ringer is now the fire chief and says Jones was not pushed out.

"It was a mutual agreement that he was moving on for better opportunities," said Ringer.   

As for stepping down after just two months as captain.

"Well I don't know what you would define normal as but I'm not sure of his situation and what his opportunities were," said Ringer. 

"If you really left on your own accord then why would you have taken the job in the first place?" said Jonathan Riesterer, a St. Joseph Township resident.

Riesterer says he thinks there's more behind Jones' resignation. 

 "Something has to be there it brings suspicion it brings all these other questions that we the people don't understand," said Riesterer. 

We spoke with Uhrick on the phone and he says the decision was mutual.  Jones was unavailable for comment.