After 29 years at the helm, Evansville Fire Chief Mike Connelly hung up his white helmet Thursday.
Connelly wrote in an e-mail obtained by the Courier & Press: "As Fire Chief for the City of Evansville it has been my honor to serve the community for 29 years. I am retiring from the department effective today."
Mayor Lloyd Winnecke issued the following statement: "Mike Connelly has submitted his resignation as Fire Chief so that he can retire from the Evansville Fire Department. I’m grateful for Mike’s 29 years of dedicated service to our city. Effective immediately, I have appointed Paul Anslinger as Fire Chief. I trust that you will join me in supporting Paul in his new role."
Connelly's e-mail showed it was sent at 10:15 a.m. By afternoon, his photo on the fire department's website had been replaced with Anslinger's.
