Canton has a new fire chief, new division chief cantonrep.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cantonrep.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Canton Fire Department swears in first African American chief Canton Fire Chief Akbar Bennett (Source: Canton fire) By Tiarra Braddock | April 26, 2021 at 3:25 PM EDT - Updated April 26 at 3:25 PM
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - For the first time in 200 years, the Canton Fire Department has its first African American chief.
The department’s new chief is Akbar Bennett.
Monday will be a very special day for the Canton Fire Department. Division Chief Akbar Bennett will be sworn in as Fire.Posted by Canton City Fire Department on Friday, April 23, 2021
“Being a fire chief, we’re in the life-saving business,” said Chief Bennett.
Canton Fire Department to swear in 1st African American chief
April 26, 2021
K. Akbar Bennett says he never set out to make history. The department has only had white chiefs in its first 200 years of existence.
CANTON – Kwameshallahu Akbar Bennett is poised to become the city s first Black fire chief.
The historic event happens one year shy of the department s bicentennial. The fire department was established in 1822, the same year Canton was incorporated as a village, according to the Canton Professional Firefighters Association.
Bennett, 50, will be promoted from division chief and sworn in at 10 a.m. Monday in council chambers at City Hall.
Bennett has served as interim fire chief since Chief Thomas Garra retired March 2 after 29 years on the force.
His retirement left Bennett and three battalion chiefs vying for the chief s post. Battalion Chief Steven Henderson will be sworn in Monday as the department s new division chief.