Shreveport Mayor Cedric B. Glover today announced his choice for Chief of the Shreveport Fire Department. Twenty-four year veteran Brian Crawford emerged from twenty-seven applicants and five finalists to become the leader of what Mayor Glover calls “The Greatest Fire Department in the Country.”

“I want to commend finalists Kerry Foster, Mark Guastella, Louis Johnson and Russell Moon, all outstanding members of the Shreveport Fire Department who made this, such a difficult task and trying decision. When it was all said and done, the individual who was the best suitable, best prepared to become the next Chief of the Shreveport Fire Department however, was the gentleman who’s standing behind me right now. Someone you all know very well. It’s my pleasure and privilege to present to you the next Chief of the Shreveport Fire Department, Brian Crawford.”

“The fact that Brian possesses a balance of experience both in terms of the fire line, almost eleven years, over eleven years of experience on the fire line, working on some of the busiest equipment in the City’s inventory, at some of the busiest stations, but that combined with obviously a great deal of experience from an administrative standpoint, encompassing every level and strata within this department I think gave him the kind of well rounded experience that we were looking for. Several of the other individuals of the final five possessed similar types of traits and qualities as well, but it isn’t hard to stop and listen to Brian and to take a look at the career that he’s compiled and to note that he has committed himself over the years to being the very best that he can in his profession and that’s exemplified by everything that he’s done on the line and within administration and outside of the department with all of the various affiliations and activities that he’s involved in and connected to.”

Crawford is an assistant chief and served as an assistant to the fire chief.

“I want to let the citizens know that I will give them my all and look forward to meeting with them to insure that the Shreveport Fire Department is meeting their needs at the same level of great service that’s been provided to the City,” says Crawford. “I thank Mayor Glover for having confidence in me.”

Following the announcement, Mayor Glover placed Crawford’s confirmation on the City Council agenda for Tuesday July 8, 2008. “It will be their decision to determine if they will confirm him on this Tuesday or on July 22, 2008.”

Click <here> to read more of Chief Crawford’s comments from today’s News Conference/Announcement on this website.