Joseph Franco Becomes Poughkeepsie Fire Chief

POUGHKEEPSIE – City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison announced that Joseph Franco has been named the city’s Fire Chief.

Franco, who has been serving as acting chief and has been with the city’s Fire Department for 27 years, succeeds Mark Johnson, who retired earlier this year.

Franco oversees a 63-member staff that protects approximately 30,000 people in an area of just under 5 square miles. The department operates out of three fire stations and responds to almost 5,000 calls per year.

Before becoming the acting fire chief earlier this year, Franco served as Deputy Fire Chief and handled the day- to-day operations of Fire Department administration under the Fire Chief. He coordinated and performed fire inspection efforts as well as oversaw the material readiness of the Department to meet its daily missions.

Before this, Franco served the Fire Department in various capacities, from Fire Alarm Dispatcher to Fire Lieutenant.

In addition to his career at the city’s Fire Department, Franco is a retired United States Navy/Naval Reserve Operation Specialist Chief Petty Officer, having served from 1985 to 2006.

“Joe Franco brings a wealth of knowledge to the position of Fire Chief, having risen in the Fire Department ranks and serving in so many different capacities — command, firefighting, building and code inspections, emergency care, and training, among them,” said Mayor Rob Rolison. “His experience and knowledge of the community will be invaluable as he takes on this critically important public-safety role.”

“It’s an honor to be selected to serve as Fire Chief,” said Franco. “I have dedicated much of my life to this department, and I feel we are well-positioned to serve the needs of the city, to ensure their safety and the safety of the fire personnel.”