WESTBROOK – The new deputy chief of the Westbrook Fire Department has seen a lot in more than 30 years of firefighting.

Wayne Jones, 50, is entering his 27th year as a firefighter in Westbrook. He spent 22 years as captain, a role that changed along with the department throughout the years.

The one constant of being a captain was that Jones was responsible for the activities of his crew during his shift. His recently took on more responsibility after being promoted to the position of deputy chief.

Jones was promoted after the city’s contract with Sandra Hillsgrove expired on Jan. 1. Hillsgrove is a consultant with Municipal Resources Inc., of Meredith, N.H., hired in March 2010 to help Westbrook’s fire department transform its image following claims of sexual harassment and impropriety.

The promotion comes at a time when the department again finds itself in transition. Police Chief Bill Baker recently announced his retirement from full-time law enforcement. Instead of finding a new chief, Mayor Colleen Hilton announced the city would merge the roles of police chief and fire chief into one director of public safety. Fire Chief Mike Pardue has been named to that role on an interim basis.

Jones spoke with the American Journal this week about the changes of the past year, the creation of a public safety director position and his vision for the department in the future.

Q: What do you view as your role at this point within public safety?

A: Support the chief, continue to move forward, focus our direction that the chief’s outlined for us. Assist the crews in any way that I can (and) take care of the citizens.

Q: You said focus on the direction the chief has outlined. What would that be?

A: The chief has been moving us in a very positive direction, and just continuing in that. And tightening up the little things we do on a daily basis. Another thing is, with deputy chief Hillsgrove, she was only here a couple of days a week. My role now, working four days a week, plus responding on calls off duty, it supports the shift officers that are working and gives them that consistency. It gives them also a place, where if they have questions or concerns, to focus those.

Q: Is it something you’re interested in doing long-term?

A: It’s definitely interim and I would entertain looking at the position long term if that works out. I love the job and this is definitely different from what I’m used to doing – being the officer of the shift – my role is different now than what it was before. Much more global, whereas (before) I took care of the people who were working on duty. This job is much more big picture. It’s different.

Q: Could you explain what sorts of changes you’ve seen in the last year?

A: The biggest thing is the outlook, both of the people that work here, and the public’s perception of us. That’s the big change that I’ve seen since Chief Pardue’s been here, is that optimism, that outlook on both sides.

Q: How difficult was it when there was all that negativity surrounding the department?

A: It was very hard. I was eligible to retire and was seriously considering retiring until Chief Pardue took the position. With his energy and his outlook, he changed my mind on retiring.

Q: What do you think of the news of the public safety director position being created?

A: For the East Coast, especially the New England area, it’s very, very new. We’re very used to, in this area of the country, having a police chief and a fire chief. Doesn’t mean it can’t work. Like others have said, if somebody can make that public safety position work, I think Chief Pardue can make that work. It will be interesting to see where all that unfolds and where it goes. So far, it looks real good.

Q: What sorts of challenges do you think a public safety director faces that might be unique to that position?

A: With the dual focus, having to focus on both departments instead of one, I think that’s very challenging. It takes a unique person to be able to accomplish that. To be able to balance the oversight of both, I think is a huge challenge.

Q: Where do you see the department going for this year and beyond?

A: Just continuing to move forward and improve. With this role being filled again on a daily basis, it gives the fire department some structure we’ve been missing.

Westbrook Deputy Fire Chief Wayne Jones discusses the department from his desk in the public safety building on Tuesday.
Staff photo by Joey Cresta