Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
Shawn Borlace
Shawano Fire Chief Doug Knope will step down from the job as of June 1 after more than 24 years overseeing the Shawano Area Fire Department.
Knope was a firefighter with the department for 30 years prior to becoming chief.
The Shawano Police and Fire Commission formally accepted Knope’s retirement letter Tuesday and appointed Shawn Borlace as the new chief, also effective June 1.
“You’re sorely going to be missed,” commission President Tony Zielinski told Knope.
Mayor Jeanne Cronce thanked Knope for his many years of service to the community.
Borlace was recommended for the chief’s post by Knope.
Borlace, who also works as a lineman for Shawano Municipal Utilities, has lived in Shawano for 17 years and has been part of the fire department for 16.
“It’s been a great experience,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot from the chief. We’ve just got a great team down there and things work really well.”
Borlace said the department also has a great relationship with Shawano police and the county sheriff’s department.
“That’s something we don’t plan on changing at all,” he said. “We work really good together, so that’s something we plan on keeping up.”
Borlace said after the meeting that he doesn’t expect any other changes in the department.
“We’ll continue on what we’re doing. It will be business as usual for us,” he said.
Borlace also had high praise for Knope.
“He’s been a great chief,” he said, “for what he’s done for this community and did for this fire department. He’s just been a great guy. He’s taught me so much personally and he’s taught the whole department how to move forward and just everything; his training, his professionalism. He’s just a great guy.”