Retiring Crete Fire Chief Honored
Channel: Village of Crete
Date: 04/04/2022

Coffee and cake in honor of Crete Fire Chief Michael Waterman Friday afternoon.

"I'm leaving as everyone know, I'm retiring from the fire service," Chief Michael Waterman said on Friday.

After 36 years in the fire business, Mr. Waterman is hanging up his helmet on Monday, April 4th.

"It's time for me to close this chapter and move on to another chapter in the book."

Starting at age 19 as a volunteer for Beecher Fire Protection District in 1985, Mr. Waterman also spent time with Frankfort and Crete Township Fire Protection Districts, and then finally taking the job as Chief of the Crete Fire Department.

"I want to thank the Village Board, the Mayor. The mayor put his trust in me six years ago to hire me. I think we've done some good things here. We've done a lot of good things here," said Chief Waterman.

Asked about Mr. Waterman's retirement and his service to the Village, Crete Mayor Einhorn:

"I want to thank Chief Waterman for his service. He really has changed the department in a lot of different ways. His past experiences have helped us move to a different level."

Under the leadership of Chief Waterman and Police Chief Pieritz, the Crete Fire Department and Crete Police Department increased collaboration into community events such as the Special Olympics.

"We have a really good relationship, the Police and Fire Department," Police Chief Pieritz said. "I'm happy for him to retire, but I'm sorry to see him go."

Mayor Einhorn added, "You gotta do what you gotta do and he can leave knowing that he's left a mark here."

Mr. Waterman says he plans to continue his employment with the Hack Jensen Funeral Home in Beecher, after retiring from Crete Fire Department.