In April, the High Ridge Fire Protection District will have new leadership, after both the chief and assistant chief retire.
Current Chief Tom Lakin, who has been with the district since 1982, and current Assistant Chief Kevin Miniea, who has been with the district since 1983, will retire.
Deputy Chief Ken Theiling has been promoted to take over as chief, and Deputy Chief Robert Jaycox has been promoted to the assistant chief job.
“I feel very comfortable turning the district over to them,” Lakin said. “Sometimes fire departments go outside and bring an outside chief in, but we really work towards our guys being ready to take that leadership role. I would not want to leave here thinking I was turning over (the district) to someone who was not qualified for this position.”
Theiling has been with High Ridge Fire since 1990, and Jaycox has been with the district since 1995.
Lakin said he and Theiling have been working for the past six months to ensure a smooth transition.
“I don’t think it will be noticeable to the men, and I don’t think it’ll be noticeable to the community that the new chief is here,” Lakin said. “He’s dedicated. I think he’s like me and enjoys coming to work every day, and that’s something a lot of people can’t say.”
Captain John Barton said Lakin currently makes a $101,061 annual salary, and Theiling, who is being paid $88,416 a year as deputy chief, will be paid $101,061 when he takes over the top job.
Miniea currently earns $93,766 a year, and Jaycox, who also currently makes $88,416, will move up to the $93,766 annual salary as assistant chief.
Lakin
Lakin, 62, of High Ridge joined the department as a volunteer, became a full-time firefighter in 1986 and was named chief in 2017.
He said he followed his brother, John Lakin, into the fire services business. John Lakin retired as the High Ridge Fire chief in 2017.
“I hung around the fire department for years, but never thought that was going to be my career,” Tom Lakin said.
He said he has enjoyed his work with High Ridge Fire but felt it was time to retire.
“I want to travel. I want to enjoy retirement, and I am comfortable leaving it in capable hands,” Lakin said.
He said some of the difficult calls will always stand out in his mind, but what he will really hold onto are the times he was able to help people.
“We’ve had some calls I will always remember. Whether it was a bad accident or a fire, whenever you go by that area, you always think about it,” Lakin said.
“But, there have been so many more positive things in my career. Just the feeling of helping is what really makes this job so special. You feel like you can help somebody possibly every day.”
Lakin said during his retirement he plans to stay involved with the district’s auxiliary, which helps with community outreach.
Lakin’s last day will be April 5.
Theiling
Theiling, 56, of Byrnes Mill said he too followed in the footsteps of family members who have worked as first responders.
“My father was a first responder. He was a police officer in Crestwood many, many, many years ago, so I kind of had it in my blood,” Theiling said. “My grandfather was a firefighter back in his days.”
Theiling’s sons, in turn, followed their father into the fire services, with both working at High Ridge Fire. Ryan is a lead engineer with the district, and Jake is an engineer.
Ken Theiling joined High Ridge as a volunteer in 1990 and became a volunteer engineer in 1992. He was hired full time in 1995, and in 2008 he became a captain and in 2016 a deputy chief.
“I’ve come up basically through every single rank there is all the way up into deputy chief,” he said.
Theiling said he feels honored to be named chief.
“I have a great group of guys who are behind me and support me with this organization. They’re all great people, and I feel very fortunate, very blessed, to have the opportunity to be the chief and lead the organization,” he said.
Theiling said he has been working closely with Lakin to teach him about the district budget and other administrative duties.
Theiling also said his goal is to maintain the district’s high standards.
“The administrative side and the personnel side are being handed to me in an excellent condition,” he said. “My goal is to maintain that and improve in some of the areas.”
April 6 will be his first day as chief.
Miniea
Miniea, 56, of High Ridge was named assistant chief in 2017 and has handled personnel issues, equipment management and overall operations.
He said he decided to become a firefighter right after graduating from Northwest High School in 1982. He first joined High Ridge Fire as a volunteer, which is a requirement to be hired as a full-time employee.
He said the thought of retirement is bittersweet.
“From starting at the fire department to learning the training, that was always somewhat fun,” he said. “Going through promotion processes was extremely stressful, but deciding that it was time to retire was probably the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make because there has not been a day that has gone by that I have not loved to come to work and do my job and try to make a difference.”
Miniea said he has no worries about Jaycox filling his position.
“I have nothing but confidence in him or anybody else who steps up,” Miniea said.
Miniea said while he will miss his job, he’s looking forward to having more free time. “I have some grandkids I want to spend time with,” he said.
Miniea’s last day on the job will be April 2.
Jaycox
Jaycox, 52, of High Ridge has been a full-time firefighter with High Ridge Fire since December 1995.
“Throughout the past 26 years, I feel I have demonstrated my loyalty, dedication and leadership skills,” he said.
Jaycox currently serves as the district’s EMS coordinator, oversees building maintenance and completes other duties.
“I am excited about moving forward with the future of the department,” he said. “I think the two individuals who are leaving have done a fantastic job as far as guiding and structuring and pointing it in the right direction.”