PEABODY — Jay Dowling was sworn in as the city’s next fire chief Thursday night, taking the reigns of a department at an inflection point.
Dowling, who served as a deputy chief, captain, and lieutenant before becoming chief, succeeds Joe Daly, who served four years as chief and is set to retire after a 31-year career in the department. Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt Jr. announced Dowling as his choice to lead the department in May, and the City Council unanimously approved his appointment earlier this week.
The swearing-in ceremony, held in the Wiggin Auditorium at City Hall, drew a large crowd of friends, family, colleagues, and elected officials, with several members of the City Council and state Reps. Tom Walsh (D-Peabody) and Sally Kerans (D-Danvers) in attendance. During brief remarks, Bettencourt praised Daly for being a “calm hand and steady presence” while leading the department through the pandemic.
Bettencourt said Dowling has demonstrated “extraordinary” leadership skills during the more than two decades he’s spent in the department, and spoke of the responsibility of the fire chief as a community leader. Bettencourt described the position as requiring dedication, commitment, and integrity — traits he said Dowling possesses.
“The job of fire chief is one of great importance to the community and comes with great responsibility,” he said. “Our citizens rightly look to their fire department not only to protect their lives and property, but to help resolve neighborhood problems and improve their quality of life. As the face of the department, the fire chief has a visible presence, attending neighborhood meetings, speaking to student groups and senior citizens, and working hard to promote the work of the department.”
After Bettencourt spoke, City Clerk Allyson Danforth administered the oath of office to Dowling, who will not technically assume his duties until July 1. When Dowling said the final words of the oath, the crowd in the auditorium erupted with thunderous applause.
In his speech, Dowling thanked friends, family, and coworkers for their support, without which he said he would not have been able to achieve all that he has.
“It’s really my honor to be able to be the leader of this department. We have a great department, we can do better, we will do better, and it’s an honor for me and my family to be able to [hold] this position,” he said.
Dowling thanked Bettencourt and the City Council for their support, and noted that the department’s staffing levels have reached close to 100%.
Daly, in an interview, said it was an honor to be succeeded by Dowling, who he described as a “fantastic person” and a “fantastic friend.”
“I have all the confidence in the world in him,” Daly said. “Jay should be able to use his vision to take the department to a higher level.”
With the department skewing younger following retirements of long-serving firefighters, Daly said Dowling will have to put an emphasis on training. And, with the department facing aging facilities, Dowling is set to take over at a time of transition.
But Daly said he believed the city, and the department, are in “capable hands.”
Dowling acknowledged those factors, citing the need to purchase two new engines, but said he “can’t wait to get started.”
He said he was stunned when he got the call from Bettencourt that he was set to succeed Daly.
“To hear the words was very humbling,” Dowling said.
