Eric Fulk joined the Mt. Hope-Funks Grove Fire Department on January 8th, 2000. After years of hard work and determination, he was hired as a full-time EMT and promoted to Fire Chief on May 1st, 2011. As a young boy, Fulk spent many hours around other family members in the fire service including his late father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was extremely proud that his father was instrumental in bringing Advance Life Support to McLean County.

Ryan Sweeney grew up in Bloomington, Illinois. He began volunteering in the Secor Fire Department in 2004, and in 2006 he joined the Armington Fire and Rescue Department. In 2007 Ryan moved to the rescue side of the fire department, and just a little over a year ago he became chief of the rescue department. Overall Ryan has been volunteering and helping those in need for over 17 years.

Danvers Chief of Police Michael Kemp has recently decided that he will be retiring from his position as Chief on Friday August 13. Chief Kemp has been the Chief of Police for the Village of Danvers since 2013, making many connections with locals during that period of time. Chief Kemp says, “I have greatly enjoyed every moment that I have served the citizens within our jurisdiction.” Chief Kemp was always thinking of what was best for the Village of Danvers. After eight years of being the Chief for Danvers, it is a given that a special connection between Chief Kemp and the community members has been built. 

This week we go to Armington for our “Meet the Chief” series. Bob Stroud has been Armington’s Fire Chief since January 2021. When asked about what the best part of being the chief is, Stroud proclaimed, “The best part is being a part of a good group of people who are there to help out when others need it.” Armington’s Community Fire and Rescue Protection District was founded in 1948. The firefighters are all volunteer workers. Their district services parts of Logan and Tazewell counties. 

This week’s edition of “Meet the Chief” features the Chief of Police for the Stanford Police Department, Chief Dustin Carter. Chief Carter grew up around Hoopeston and Leroy and has been around law enforcement his whole life. His father was also a Chief of Police and being in a household that focused on public safety made it feel very natural for Chief Carter to pursue a career in law enforcement. Chief Carter obtained his bachelor’s degree from Lincoln College with a major in Business Management and a minor in Criminal Justice. Although Chief Carter understood that law enforcement was not for everyone, he saw it as his calling. 

How can you tell when someone truly loves their job? Danvers’ Police Chief, Michael Kemp, shows his passion and love for his job. In this week’s edition of “Meet the Chief” we learn about why Chief Kemp became a police officer, what it is like working in his profession, and why he loves his job.