Assistant Fire Chief Gerard Ellis retires from the South Bend Fire Department

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - It was a bittersweet day for the South Bend Fire Department.  

The department celebrated by giving a fond farewell to Assistant Chief Gerard Ellis. 

Ellis has been with the department for more than 22 years, most recently as Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention.

Lots of people gathered here to wish Assistant Chief Ellis a happy retirement.

His fellow firefighters are both happy to send him off, but sad to see him go because he was such a great asset to the department.     

He began his career in the Indiana National Guard.

His platoon sergeant was a South Bend Firefighter and encouraged him to apply to the department.

Ellis followed through and worked his way up through the ranks.

Ellis shared some of his favorite memories of working on the west side of South Bend, thanking people who came out to celebrate with him today. 

“It's nice, again it's great, it's kind of sad at the same time, but I'm grateful that a lot of them got to stop by take a few minutes out of their day, come by and say thanks and give me a hug or whatever, so it's a good feeling," said Ellis.

Chief Buchanon of the South Bend Fire Department promoted Ellis to Assistant Chief Of Fire Prevention in 2020, citing Ellis' ability to build up the division.

Buchanon was out here today, saying it's always emotional to see such a valued member of the department go.

"So, it's bittersweet to see him go, but it's also, for me, I'm happy to see that he's able to leave here on his own and enjoy his retirement and figure out what his next steps are going to be. I'm sure he's not done yet," said Buchanon.

Now that he's retired, Ellis says he hopes to spend more time with his family, and work on some projects around the house.