Crime & Safety

Commissioners Support Jeffery Carley as New Chief

The longtime Wyandotte fire captain is expected to be promoted later this month.

took one step closer Tuesday to becoming the next Wyandotte fire chief.

The city’s Police and Fire Commission concurred with Mayor Joseph Peterson’s recommendation that Carley be promoted to the top spot, replacing longtime chief .

The matter now goes before the city council for a vote. That is set to take place at the council’s next meeting on Jan. 23.

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Police and Fire Commissioner John Harris had high praise for both the incoming and outgoing chiefs.

“You’ve got a lot to live up to,” Harris said to Carley.

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Carley, who has been with the department for nearly 22 years, said he’s up for the challenge even though he’s long thought he’d never want the chief’s job.

“Now that it’s getting close to the end of my career, I think it’s the appropriate time,” the 44-year-old Wyandotte man said. “I’ve always said: ‘Either ride the bus or get in the driver’s seat.’ I think it’s time for me to get into the driver’s seat.”

Carley said the department has improved under MacDonald’s leadership over the last seven years.

“Mike's done an excellent job running the department and I don’t have anything in mind to change,” he said.

Budget cuts, staffing levels and contract negotiations are all concerns that lie ahead for the new chief.

“I don’t know what I got myself into,” Carley said. “I’m going to find out real quick. I’ve already got a lot of stuff piling up on an imaginary desk. … We’ll see what the future holds. It’s going to be a tough, uphill battle.”

City officials initially had planned to immediately make Carley interim chief because of a gap between MacDonald retiring and Carley beginning. However, they’ve now changed their mind.

MacDonald is retiring Jan. 17 and the council won’t vote to officially give Carley the job until Jan. 23.

With Carley already being the senior captain, however, he’s historically always been the one in charge when the chief is out, MacDonald said.

“He inherits the department de facto,” MacDonald said. “For the six days, I’m sure he can muddle through.”

Carley said he's ready to give up his 24-hour shifts as a firefighter for the (mostly) 9 to 5 job as chief.

"I'm excited; I'm ready," he said.


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