Frazier out as Kokomo fire chief

Jan. 17—The Kokomo Fire Department has a new fire chief.

Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore has appointed retired Kokomo firefighter Paul Edwards as the department's new leader, according to a Wednesday press release. It's the mayor's first major administration shakeup since starting his second term Jan 1.

Edwards will be sworn in later this month and is replacing now former fire chief Chris Frazier. In the meantime, Deputy Chief Steve Stackhouse will serve as the interim chief, according to the release.

"It is an incredible privilege and honor to return home to the Kokomo Fire Department where I first started my career 28 years ago as a young, probationary firefighter," Edwards said in a prepared statement. "I am excited to lead the women and men of our department into the future by serving with Mayor Moore to develop the department and respond to the public safety needs of our growing community."

Edwards, a Kokomo native, is a 1984 graduate of Taylor High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University and Master of Science from Indiana Wesleyan University.

He joined KFD in 1996 and originally retired from the department in 2018. During his time at KFD, he achieved certifications as a confined space rescue technician, hazardous materials technician and emergency medical technician.

In a prepared statement, Moore said he is confident Edwards is the "right person to lead the department."

"He demonstrated leadership within the Kokomo Fire Department and his skills have been highly sought after by the private sector when he retired," Moore said in a statement. "We are lucky to have him back."

FRAZIER 'SURPRISED'

Frazier, in a brief phone interview with the Tribune on Wednesday, said his demotion was "unexpected" and a "surprise" to him, and that he learned about the change just last week. He said he was not given a reason behind the decision.

"I'm still pretty unclear as to the actual reason," Frazier said. "There wasn't a lot of information given to me. It was very vague."

Moore declined to comment when asked by the Tribune why he decided to make the leadership position change.

Frazier will continue to serve KFD as a captain.

In a prepared statement sent to the Tribune later Wednesday, Frazier said it has been an "honor" to serve as fire chief.

"In that time, my staff has advocated consistently and passionately for the needs of the fire department and the citizens of Kokomo," he said. "We have been able to accomplish many goals during this time. Most importantly we have turned the morale of the firefighters around after many hard years. Our most lasting achievement will be the hiring of 31 amazing young firefighters that will shape and serve the city of Kokomo for years to come. I would like to thank all of those (who) have supported our mission ...

"Chief Ramon Cassis and Chief Scott Ryckman have been great partners in this endeavor. Lastly, thank you to my wife, Nikki, for enduring all of the late night phone calls and the long hours that come with this job. The future of the Kokomo Fire Department is bright."

Frazier was originally tapped as fire chief by Moore shortly after Moore's electoral victory in 2019.

Frazier was then the head of the Kokomo Fire Department's union — Professional Firefighters of Kokomo Local 396 — and, most notably, sparred with former Mayor Greg Goodnight in a yearlong contract dispute with the city that included the first ever stretch of Kokomo firefighters operating without a contract.

Frazier was a constant critic of the former city administration and believed Goodnight's public safety cuts led to KFD being understaffed and put firefighters and the public at risk.

Moore's appointment of Frazier as fire chief was seen as a commitment by the new city administration to bolster staffing levels.

In the last four years, according to Frazier, KFD has hired around 30 firefighters — seven of those being net additions and the rest done so to replace retiring firefighters.

The city's 2024 budget staffs 92 total positions in KFD. A 2022 report commissioned by the city, said the Kokomo Fire Department would need to employ 96 full-time firefighters to be more in line with "peer" departments across the state.

Tyler Juranovich can be reached at 765-454-8577, by email at tyler.juranovich@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @tylerjuranovich.