Gainesville Fire Rescue Chief Joe Dixon announced that he would step down from his role on Sept. 20 to move and be closer to family.
Dixon served as fire chief since 2021 and also oversees the city’s homelessness and gun violence response. At last week’s City Commission meeting, Mayor Harvey Ward thanked Dixon for his service, professionalism and demeanor working in Gainesville.
Dixon said family is a top priority, and with a new grandson, he wants to be close by to throw the football to him growing up.
City Manager Cynthia Curry said Dixon has been one of the executive leaders she’s relied on 150%.
“His service to our community leaves it a better place, and the team he has trained is excellent,” Curry said in a memo to commissioners. “I have confidence they will successfully lead us through a seamless and productive transition.”
The next step for the fire department hasn’t been announced, but Curry said in February that Gainesville would launch a national search for a permanent police chief.
The City (Curry), overburdened a great fire chief with all the added responsibilities she can’t handle. No worries though as this will likely open up a whole new department of nonsense and somehow another couple of million dollars will be appropriated through creative repurposed funds that don’t exist in the first place. SMH.
I heard GFR was assigned homeless intervention duty recently, instead of GPD as usual? Was that to reduce the crime *data* and make it look like overall crime has declined? Was that a tip given by the White House to cities nationwide, to help their 2024 campaign plank, saying “crime rates have fallen”? On top of victims calling 911 less for some reason, too?