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Arlington Heights swears in five fire department promotions
Summary
The Arlington Heights Village Board held a recognition ceremony Feb. 3 to swear in five promoted members of the Arlington Heights Fire Department, including a new deputy chief and three battalion chiefs and lieutenants. Speakers praised the officers’ experience and community service.
The Arlington Heights Village Board on Feb. 3 formally recognized and swore in five promotions in the Arlington Heights Fire Department, including the appointment of Andrew J. Benckert to deputy fire chief and promotions to battalion chief and lieutenant ranks.
The promotions ceremony, held at the start of the village board meeting, covered career milestones and qualifications for each appointee and included oath-taking and short remarks from the promotees and village leaders.
Officials said Andrew J. Benckert, who joined the department in 2007 and was promoted to battalion chief in 2022, holds fire-officer certifications, HAZMAT and technical rescue training and a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering from Iowa State University. In brief remarks after the oath, Deputy Chief Benckert thanked the mayor, village manager and department leadership and said, “Citizens of Arlington Heights, I want to tell you that you're the best.”
Ross Chapman was promoted to battalion chief. Chapman joined the department in 2007 and holds a bachelor’s degree in fire service management and a master’s in emergency services management; officials noted his credentials with urban search-and-rescue teams and training roles. Chris Raimut (identified in the ceremony by the presiding official) was sworn in as battalion chief; the presentation listed his fire-officer, incident-safety and emergency-management coursework and his role as an adjunct instructor at Harper College.
The board also swore in Andrew (Drew) Hanson and Scott Vazicek to lieutenant positions, noting paramedic, instructor and advanced operations certifications and community service roles. Several board members and the mayor offered congratulations; officials encouraged the promotees to pose for photographs and thanked families in attendance.
The board did not take formal votes on the promotions; the recognitions were presented as part of the meeting’s recognitions and presentations section.
