By Annie Pulley
The Journal Times
MOUNT PLEASANT, Wis. — Joseph “Joe” Hoffman will become South Shore Fire Department’s new chief Nov. 4.
Hoffman, who has more than 30 years of experience, will take the reins from Interim Chief Joe Knitter, who stepped into the role in May.
Knitter previously retired from the chief position in South Milwaukee after more than 37 years with the department.
“He knows what it takes to run a multi-station operation,” Knitter said. “You take care of your people, your people take care of the public.”
Hoffman most recently was the assistant fire chief for the City of Waukesha. He started in Waukesha as a battalion chief in 2004 and has been assistant chief since 2012.
During his time in Waukesha, Hoffman’s department responded to the Christmas parade attack in November 2021 that killed six people and injured 62 others.
He said the ties of support between the residents and the department pulled them through the tragedy.
“In the end, truly the community is what makes the department,” Hoffman said. Waukesha is home to about 71,000 people, and SSFD, which serves the villages of Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant, and about 34,000 people.
The 65-person department just west of Racine staffs four stations and is projected to respond to about 6,300 calls in 2024, according to a news release from the Village of Mount Pleasant.
SSFD’s call volume has reportedly increased 7% annually and is expected to continue increasing. The village intends to build a fifth station on Louis Sorenson Road.
“It’s a department that wants to grow, that needs to grow,” Knitter said.
Hoffman intends to bring a data-driven approach to his new role.
His first goal is to get to know the community, learn its needs and build a path forward for the department as the village grows.
“I’ve always kind of championed being a builder, not a divider,” Hoffman said.
Some of Hoffman’s other goals include ensuring that fire personnel are equipped to maintain the safety of new buildings as well as ensuring the department delivers equitable service.
“Whether it’s the first call of the day or it’s the 15th call,” Hoffman said, every caller should be guaranteed a timely response.
Waukesha took inspiration from Racine’s youth employment programs, and Hoffman also plans to continue SSFD’s outreach and support of firefighter hopefuls.
Hoffman grew up in Branch, Wisconsin, just outside of Manitowoc and planned on becoming an accountant. His father, who had always been a volunteer firefighter, encouraged him to apply for a junior firefighter program when Hoffman was still in high school.
“Like any normal kid at that age,” Hoffman said, “you kind of run away from what your parents do.”
But he gave it a chance, and it stuck.
“Very shortly thereafter I went, ‘No, this is exactly what I want to do with the rest of my life,’” Hoffman said. “I love the concept of the fire service. An organization solely about helping people at their time of need is what is the most rewarding thing for me.”
Knitter shares that calling.
His journey began when he took a position as an on-call firefighter for Saint Francis in 1981. He began in South Milwaukee in 1985 and would serve that community until retiring in 2022.
“I can’t believe that I’ve been afforded this opportunity in this thing we call the fire service,” Knitter said.
After decades with South Milwaukee, Knitter chose to step back and spend time with his aging mother and his grandson.
When he learned that Mount Pleasant was searching for an interim chief, he jokingly texted village administrator Tamara Simons, whom Knitter had previously worked with during his time in South Milwaukee.
“I know someone who has time on their hands,” Knitter humorously recalled the text message.
In about a week’s time he’d be sitting in the chief’s office.
After Nov. 4, Knitter will stay on for a few weeks to help Hoffman acclimate to the department. He’s considering an offer to stay in a part-time capacity for policy development and operational improvements as well.
“I’m going to continue speaking and writing and teaching when I can,” Knitter said. “I can’t give up what has really been my life for the last 40-some years.”
(c)2024 The Journal Times, Racine, Wisc.
Visit The Journal Times, Racine, Wisc. at www.journaltimes.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
