NEW DOLTON FIRE CHIEF OFF TO GREAT START

Chief Quention Curtis
Chief Quention Curtis

NEW DOLTON FIRE CHIEF OFF TO GREAT START

The complexity of issues related to the Village of Dolton over the past several years has been well documented. Particularly the pattern of corruption and fiscal mismanagement performed by former Mayor Tiffany Henyard in which all is being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s office. However, last spring the voters of Dolton overwhelmingly sent a message of change by electing Jason House to a full four-year term as mayor.

Mayor House in his inaugural speech was firm and intentional of his aim to restore fiscal responsibility and to reform the overall management of the six-mile town. The loads of mismanagement from the prior administration obviously didn’t occur overnight, however the mayor has taken bold steps in correcting matters that even predated the Henyard administration.

At issue is the enormous abuse of overtime throughout all departments as well as restructuring the employee payroll to reflect the full diversity of the town. Both factors were prevalent throughout the department of public safety.

To confront the issues within the fire department, Mayor House appointed a well-qualified and highly regarded veteran Fire Chief in the person of Quention Curtis. Chief Curtis is a 37-year-old Retired member of the Chicago fire department with an impeccable record of over 40 State & Federal certifications. He has worked on many major incidents such as 911, Hurricane Katrina, E2 tragedy, and the 69 W. Washington fire just to name a few. His experience comes with countless awards in water rescue as a scuba diver, and Hazmat fires. Chief Curtis is trained at every level of an incident that is required by the state of Illinois.

Since being appointed as Chief, Curtis has cut overtime by more than 50% which amounts to a  cost savings in excess of $30,000 per month for the residents of Dolton. Chief Curtis has maintained and enhanced a best-in-class department that utilizes wise practices and updated procedural training. He has addressed long-standing issues within the department that include implementation of house repairs, vehicle maintenance repairs, a more inclusive chain of command as well as updating general orders, Standard Operating Procedures, and enhanced rules and regulations.

Residents are most impressed with Chief Curtis’s national reputation as a lead coordinator of the Black Fire Brigade. (BFB)The BFB was founded in 2018 to create pathways for opportunities in the Black community. Since its founding, the organization has supported over 1,100 students through education, assisted more than 550 single mothers, helped 50 homeless youth, and generated over $40 million annually in community impact through Black first responders.

The Black Fire Brigade is all about channeling young Black men and women in the right direction and launching their careers in the fire service that pays dividends financially and personally.

Chief Curtis has demonstrated strong fiscal responsibility in his leadership of the Village of Dolton Fire Department by carefully managing resources and identifying cost-saving opportunities that benefit the entire community. Through strategic budgeting, eliminating unnecessary expenditures, and improving operational efficiency within his department, he was able to save the village hundreds of thousands of dollars. His approach emphasizes accountability, transparency, and long-term planning, ensuring that taxpayer funds were used effectively without compromising public safety or service quality.

These efforts not only strengthened the village’s financial stability but also built trust among residents, showing that disciplined leadership can deliver meaningful results for the community.

Pastor William Fleshman, Senior Pastor of the Abundant Living Christian Center echoes the positive sentiments throughout the village.

”Chief  Curtis has immediately come into the department and transformed operations. However, I’m most impressed with his ability to reshape the fiscal health of the department, which impacts the overall financial structure of the village’s finances. I applaud Mayor House for appointing such a stellar professional. “says Pastor Fleshman.

Dolton resident Rekeenya Brown adds, “The appointment of Chief Curtis was an enormous breath of fresh air to the village of Dolton. He has been steadfast in his commitment to educating scores of young people of the importance of fire safety but moreover, he has outlined the firm path for these same young people to explore the possibility of engaging a career as fire personnel.”

While there will always be challenges in the area of public safety, Chief Curtis has fostered a culture of inclusion, accountability, and transparency. That is a terrific start to improving the tone, tenor, and the overall fiscal structure of the Dolton Fire Department.

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