After 29 years of service, Chief Mike Connelly retires from Evansville Fire Dept.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - According to officials, Fire Chief, Mike Connelly has submitted his resignation from the Evansville Fire Department.

A release from Mayor Lloyd Winnecke’s office says Connelly submitted his resignation in order to retire.

EFD Division Chief Mike Larson said members of the department only learned that Connelly would be stepping down “minutes” before the mayor’s office released a statement.

When 14 News reached out to Evansville Professional Fire Fighters Local 357 for comment, officials said the union would not be releasing a statement about Connelly’s departure at this time.

City officials also said they were surprised to learn Connelly was taking his leave.

In his statement, Winnecke also thanked Connelly for his many years of service.

Connelly served the department for 29 years, leading his crew’s response to the Weinbach Avenue house explosion and the Morton Avenue multi-alarm warehouse fire that burned for days last year.

Winnecke named Connelly as chief of the department in 2011 after his work with Rescue Company #1′s fire suppression team. Connelly also served as a Team Leader on the Hazardous Materials Response Team during his early years with the department.

Officials say Paul Anslinger will take over the fire chief position, effective immediately.

Anslinger worked as the assistant fire chief under Connelly and has served EFD for more than 30 years.

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