Delphi’s new fire chief is ready to lead department
By Debbie Lowe

Patterson

When 2007 arrives in a little more than a week, there will be a new person at the helm of the Delphi Tri-Township Volunteer Fire Department. And the new man in charge said the department is sure to change.

Chief Bill Schock bids farewell to the post Dec. 31 and John Patterson will be ready to assume the duties, the glory and the headaches of the all-volunteer fire department.

Patterson said he knows what lies ahead for him as the new chief.

“I want to make a difference,” he said.

“I’ve got a big set of shoes to fill,” he added, expressing his admiration for the job Schock has done over the past 43 years.

“There haven’t been a lot of chiefs for this department,” he continued. “I want the responsibility of leadership and I want to stand out as one of the few. It will be real hard to improve what we have, but times change.”

Carroll County native and 1976 Delphi High School graduate, Patterson is almost a 27-year veteran with the department. He came onboard as a captain when Schock appointed him in 1980.

Patterson said he always wanted to be a firefighter, just like many young children.

“Little kids want to be firemen,” he said. “I just never got over it!”

Patterson said he intends to run the department much the same way as Schock did and expects no surprises. However, unlike Schock, who owns and operates a custom welding shop at his home just outside of Delphi, Patterson works in Lafayette. He said he may not always be able to leave his job to fight a fire in Delphi, but he said the department’s firefighters are trained and very able to manage a fire scene in his absence.

Patterson said as chief he wants to emphasize what goes right rather than what goes wrong when fires are fought.

“We have to think about what was saved at a fire scene,” he said. “We shouldn’t focus on what was lost. The world is a combustible place and we can’t save everything in it.”

“We are out there to save property and protect the public,” he added. “What seems like a total loss, may not be so much.”

Patterson was nominated and voted to lead by his firefighting comrades.

“We have elections every year, but nobody ever ran against Schock,” he said. “He could do the job and everybody was happy with him.”

When Schock announced his retirement from the department last fall, he tapped Patterson to be his successor.

“I’m leaving the leadership in good hands,” Schock said. “And I will be around to help him when he asks for help.”

“He’s got a terrific staff,” Schock continued. “The whole bunch is great. They will all work together hand-in-hand.”

Patterson is not exactly new to leading the department. He explained that the first firefighter on the scene is always in charge until the chief arrives. There were times when he continued to be in charge after the chief’s arrival, which allowed him to know and understand first-hand how to conduct a fire scene.

Patterson said the biggest responsibility the chief has is the safety of firefighters.

“I won’t compromise when it comes to firefighters’ safety,” he said. “The firefighters are my top priority.”

Patterson said one challenge before him is recruitment of new personnel. He described the task as demanding.

“It takes people to run the fire department,” he said. “Part of being a good leader is finding good people and making the most of their strengths.”

Other challenges described by Patterson include keeping technology and equipment updated for an efficiently-functioning department.

And the biggest challenge Patterson anticipates when he becomes the department’s leader?

“Filling Bill Schock’s shoes.”