Tanner looking to develop future leaders as WeGo fire chief

WEST CHICAGO – Even though he's been in the firefighting business for almost 30 years, Patrick Tanner has no intention of burning out.

Tanner was named the new fire chief of the West Chicago Fire Protection District in December after the previous chief retired. Prior to this position, he spent four years as chief of the Highland Park Fire Department.

Tanner had spent his entire career in Highland Park, starting as a full-time firefighter at 19 years old. In all, he spent 29 years and five months there.

He said he set a goal to work in Highland Park no more than 30 years.

"I wanted a new challenge," he said.

Tanner wanted to come to the West Chicago fire district because he said it's a "whole different way to run a fire department."

In Highland Park, the department is structured under the municipal government, meaning the chief has several layers of officials to answer to. However, in West Chicago, he answers to a board of trustees, and has far more responsibilities.

Tanner said new challenges include handling personnel, finances, human relations, technology, communications and any other issues the district faces. But not everything is new for him.

"You still put out fires the same way, but it adds a little more responsibility on the chief to manage the fire department," he said.

While running the West Chicago fire district, Tanner said he hopes to develop future leaders and create an atmosphere that is pleasant to work in.

He said the district isn't in a bad state, but can be better.

"That's really my goal, to develop personnel and make the place better," Tanner said.

District board President Dave Janaes said Tanner was chosen for the position because of his background and the ideas he presented about moving the district forward.

"Some of the progressive ideas he presented to us kind of put him over the top," Janaes said.

The board received 44 applications for the open chief position, and put together a selection firm to narrow down the candidates.

The firm was able to narrow the candidates to 10. From there, the board met with each candidate and cut the pool to four.

After that, they ran an assessment center, in which each candidate was put in a stressful situation, and the board observed how they reacted. That narrowed the pool to three.

From there, the board met with and interviewed the remaining candidates, selecting Tanner.

Tanner has lived up to the high expectations the board set upon hiring him, Janaes said.

"We have not been disappointed," he said. "He hit the ground running and he is moving forward with a lot of good things."