Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Promotions Elkhart Fire Department topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fire merit commission approves promotions for a dozen Elkhart firefighters
Summary
The commission approved promotions for multiple Elkhart Fire Department members, with the Fire Chief announcing promotions under Indiana Code 36‑8‑3.5‑16 and commissioners voting to confirm each.
On Monday, July 28, the Elkhart Fire Merit Commission approved a series of promotions announced by Fire Chief Rodney Dale. Chief Dale cited Indiana Code 36‑8‑3.5‑16 as the authority under which he notified the commission of the department’s personnel actions.
Chief Dale announced promotions including: - Medic driver Amado Tanguma to medic lieutenant (chief said the promotion is effective immediately and that Tanguma’s first shift in the new role was on 07/28/2025). - First class firefighter Matthew Bryant to suppression driver operator (chief said first shift 07/09/2025). - First class firefighter Corey Hill to suppression driver operator (chief said first shift 07/08/2025). - First class firefighter Joshua Patterson to suppression driver operator (chief said first shift 07/10/2025). - First class firefighter Jafet Moya to suppression driver operator (chief said first shift 07/09/2025). - First class firefighter Spencer Bircher to medic driver operator (chief said first shift 07/10/2025). - First class firefighter Jenner Minnix to medic driver operator (chief said first shift 07/10/2025). - First class firefighter James DeWitt to medic driver operator (chief said first shift 07/10/2025). - First class firefighter Evan Shillock to medic driver operator (chief said first shift 07/09/2025). - Driver operator Aaron Lechleitner to lieutenant (chief said promotion effective immediately; first shift noted as 07/29/2025).
For each promotion the commission entertained a motion, received a second, and voted to approve; commissioners announced “Aye” and recorded no oppositions for these agenda items. The commission also set a hearing date for a separate personnel matter (Jason Lance) for Aug. 22 at 9 a.m., during the same meeting.
Chief Dale read each promotion into the record and the commission confirmed them by voice vote. Where there were inconsistencies between the chief’s spoken effective dates and dates shown in motion language on the record, this article reports the dates as stated by the chief during his announcements. The commission offered formal congratulations to those promoted. No additional budgetary details or pay‑step changes were discussed on the record.
