Rowlett firefighters urge council to make interim chief Chris Inslee permanent

ROWLETT, Texas — Members of the Rowlett Firefighters Association asked the Rowlett City Council April 21 to appoint Interim Chief Chris Inslee as the department’s permanent fire chief, arguing the promotional process had produced the wrong outcome and that the department needed stable leadership.

"In the fire service, the promotional process is sacred," Josh Brock, president of the Rowlett Firefighters Association (Local 3358), told the council. He said the department’s promotional lists had excluded Chief Inslee twice yet the membership unanimously supported him and had restored morale under his interim leadership. "We want interim chief Chris Inslee as our permanent fire chief," Brock said.

Brock described the promotion process as fundamental to trust between a department and the city and warned that skipping or undercutting that process would turn promotions into preferences. He said the association voted unanimously April 11 to support Inslee.

During citizen input other speakers echoed concerns about fire department staffing and support. Elaine Ritchie said long‑standing leadership gaps — including vacancies at fire chief, deputy fire marshal and fire inspector — and compensation that “has fallen behind comparable cities” were harming morale and service. "These women and men do not need psychological fatigue when they're at the station," she said, urging the council for better reciprocity and support.

Council took no formal personnel action at the meeting; the firefighters’ request was made during the public‑comment period and will require council or staff follow‑up in a subsequent personnel or agenda process.