For Cherry Hill Fire Department Chief Robert Giorgio, his initial convictions led him to a 30-year career with the fire department.
And it all began when he was 15 years old and signed up to volunteer with the department.
By the time he was 21, he became a career firefighter with the department. Prior to his appointment as fire chief in 2001, Giorgio served as fire inspector, captain, station commander, battalion chief of training and safety and assistant fire chief.
And now, after serving as fire chief for 10 years, Giorgio announced last week that he is stepping down from the position. Giorgio will continue employment with the fire department, serving in the field as assistant fire chief.
Giorgio was faced with signing a third, five-year contract as chief, but turned it down, he said, to give a fresh set of eyes the opportunity to oversee the department, which includes 95 firefighters, 50 EMTs and seven administrators.
“I’ll agree it’s not the most traditional approach,” Giorgio said. “There’s some shock about this happening. But this is a very adaptive group of people. Our responsibility is to serve the community first.”
The board of fire commissioners has begun to look for his replacement, who, Giorgio said, would likely take on the role in the next few months.
The commissioners are currently conducting a national search. Candidates will apply, and the board will narrow the list in the next few months, ultimately selecting Giorgio’s successor.
Looking back on his years at the helm, Giorgio said he is proud of the work the department has been able to accomplish.
In 1994, Giorgio was part of the department’s move to merge all the township’s fire stations into one uniform district. He was also involved in bringing a new certification-based training plan, adapted from a program at the University of Maryland, to Cherry Hill. The township was the first in the state to utilize this type of training, he said.
Over the years, the department has worked to advance best practices, budget practices, a capital program and the hiring process. Giorgio and his staff also coordinated the transition of EMS into the fire department, which led to an EMS partnership with the Cherry Hill Police Department.
“Overall, we’ve built a cohesive firefighting force,” Giorgio said.
Giorgio also noted the department’s improved response efforts. He said Cherry Hill’s firefighters are able to arrive at a number of different types of incidents, immediately able to engage and take control.
“That takes a lot of work. We have proven how capable we are,” Giorgio said. “In other municipalities, they’d have to bring a larger force (to respond to calls).”
Because of the department’s work to improve management, budgeting and fleet maintenance, Giorgio said it’s a good time to let someone else step up as chief.
Giorgio said the next chief is charged with furthering the plans the department has laid out over recent years.
Prior to starting, the new chief will likely take an assessment of the town to gauge the community itself, along with its needs and risks. Giorgio said it’s also important for the department’s next leader to get to know Cherry Hill, too.
“Any new chief will recognize that Cherry Hill is a great place to work. They’ll have to be willing to be involved in all aspects of the community,” he said.
As for Giorgio, he’ll step back as assistant in the field command office, coordinating the firefighting and EMS forces. He’ll also focus on training both units and interacting with police and the department of public works. He said he has no plans to leave what he enjoys doing in the near future.
“The Cherry Hill Fire Department is a special place. Serving this town is important to me,” Giorgio said. “I’ve tried to earn it everyday.”
Mayor Bernie Platt also commended Giorgio for his career with the fire department
“Bob Giorgio represents the ideal public servant who committed himself to make Cherry Hill a safer place to live over the course of his more than 20 years with the department. Bob and I were able to accomplish great things together that enhanced this township’s public safety operations. It has been a pleasure and indeed an honor to work with him as the mayor of Cherry Hill and I wish him great success in his future endeavors,” Platt said.
