Mt. Pleasant Fire Department chief retires after 52 years of service

Years ago, Mt. Pleasant Fire Department Chief Stewart Kinney received a letter from a Fire Department Chief in Chicago, Joseph Worden. In this letter, Worden complimented Kinney on his department and the level of cooperation and coordination they exhibited with law enforcement and EMS during an accident on Highway 218 he passed by on his way to Anamosa on Sept. 16, 2006.

Worden stopped at the scene of the accident where two vehicles were involved and victims were trapped in a minivan that had sustained severe front-end damage. While there were no emergency workers on the scene at first, law enforcement, EMS and the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department arrived quickly.

'I am not writing as a civilian bystander with little idea on how things should have been handled …” Worden wrote, adding he had 28 years of experience in Fire Service and with EMS. 'I feel your crews did a fine job, and I would be happy to have them on one of my scenes.”

Kinney kept that letter in his office at the Mt. Pleasant Fire Department. Over the years, it has served as a reminder that if someone else in the business has that respect for what his Fire Department is doing, he must be doing something right. Now in his retirement, the letter is a source of pride and comfort as he reflected on his 52 years on the force during a part in his honor at the Fire Department on Wednesday, Sept. 26.

As cake was served, Kinney, a man of few words, thanked everyone for coming. 'I really appreciate it. I didn't want to make a big deal out of this,” he said, stopping to say hello to new faces and old who showed up to thank Kinney for his leadership as chief. 'I've enjoyed working with everyone over the years,” he said.

Senior Lieutenant Joe Ruby credits Kinney with making sure the department continues to be a well-oiled machine by making sure everyone is doing what they're supposed to be doing.

'I know he's proud of this department,” Ruby said, who has worked with Kinney for over 30 years. 'This day is very tough for him … I hate to see him go.”

Ruby likes to tease Kinney about how he was only four-years-old when Kinney joined the fire department. Joking aside, Ruby said he has learned what to do and what not to do from observing and listening to Kinney over the years and expressed his appreciation for the way Kinney handled changes in the department.

'Fifty-two years is a lot of calls,” Will Bensmiller said, who has 13 years with the fire department. From attending committee meetings to city council meetings to inspecting new building construction for fire safety, Bensmiller said the general population doesn't see the work Kinney has put into the department over the years.

'There's 26 guys and we've all learned from him,” Bensmiller said. 'When you've followed him for all that time, (his retirement) is going to be a big change for us.”

Ben Calhoun, who has three years with the department, echoed the sentiment of many of the firemen when he said he has learned too many things from Kinney over the years to pick just one.

Nick Ettinger, who joined the reserve unit in 2010 and was hired full-time in 2012, said the biggest character trait Kinney contributed to the department is just his dedication. In an emergency, Kinney is at the department. Kinney also made sure the department was set apart from the rest through his attention to detail by keeping the trucks clean and presentable.

From Kinney, Ettinger learned how to give back to the community through events such as the annual Fire Prevention Night at the station and visiting classrooms to educate students on fire safety.

'It comes down to his support and guidance,” Ettinger said. 'We wouldn't be the same without his service. We love you, chief.”