Richard D. LePere Jr., the longtime Fire Chief for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (previously Reedy Creek Improvement District) will be retiring this summer, according to a CFTOD press release. Chief LePere will retire in August after serving as Fire Chief since April 2013 and as a Reedy Creek firefighter since 2000.
Chief LePere is honored with two locations bearing his name in Magic Kingdom after working to modernize the fire department during his tenure.
Outside of the Peter Pan’s Flight attraction, Chief LePere has his name on a barrel as the fire chief of the Lost Boys Fire Brigade. At Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Chief LePere has his name on a crate. Both props function as covers for firefighting infrastructure should emergency services need it.
CFTOD District Administrator Glenton Gilzean, Jr. has announced that the District is searching for a new Fire Chief.
“Our district is proud to be an international destination hosting millions of visitors each year,” said Administrator Glenton Gilzean, Jr. “Promoting the safety of these visitors is a top priority of the district through exemplary emergency services including a robust and well-run fire department and strong partnerships with law enforcement. We strive for our district to be a world leader in public safety. With our unique challenges to the district, our firefighters deserve the best compensation possible that will make them competitive within the region while being fiscally responsible. Our firefighters volunteer to put their lives on the line to protect the public and they deserve nothing less than the best leadership we can find.”
CFTOD says that the nationwide search will seek a leader for the fire department with a strong track record of leadership in running a department that successfully implements industry-leading fire management techniques.
Candidates interested in applying to be the Fire Chief can apply by emailing their application to [email protected]
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