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Cops Corner
Dave King will be interim chief. Sievers will return to Deerfield Beach and become its emergency manager.
BRIAN MCMILLAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR
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Fire Chief Richard Sievers will be leaving the city of Ormond Beach on Feb. 24 and returning to the city of Deerfield Beach, where he will be emergency manager. Having been at Ormond’s helm since 2018, Sievers’ departure prompts a handful of local promotions.
City Manager Joyce Shanahan made the announcement at the conclusion of the Feb. 1 City Commission meeting. “We want to say thank you to Chief Sievers,” she said, noting that the Fire Department would be hosting an achievement ceremony for him on Feb. 21.
Dave King, who had planned to retire as a battalion chief, will remain as interim fire chief for the time being.
Tom Bazanos was the deputy fire chief, and he is also retiring.
Nathan Quartier, who was a battalion chief, was promoted to deputy chief to take Bazanos’ place.
“I’m very grateful we’re able to promote from within,” Shanahan said.
City commissioners also thanked the officers.
“You’ve been wonderful for this department,” Commissioner Rob Littleton said to Sievers.
“You really elevated our department to a new level,” Commissioner Dwight Selby added. “You got us on track with new fire engines and new equipment. You brought a spirit of camaraderie to the department that is really fantastic. You’re leaving very big shoes that will be hard for the city manager to fill.”
Even though he’s sad Sievers will be leaving, Selby said he’s happy for “the younger guys” who have an opportunity to advance in their careers.
“Chief, you brought the Fire Department a long way,” Commissioner Susan Persis said. “I know the guys are going to miss you. Thanks for making our city shine a little brighter.”
Mayor Bill Partington added a personal story. His childhood home caught fire many years ago, while his father was still living there. According to King in an interview after the meeting, when some roof work was done, the roofer started to smell gas, but he couldn’t find where it was coming from. Later, a spark ignited in the attic and “blew the roof off.”
Officers reported hearing the “boom” a mile away, Quartier recalled. Roofers were in the driveway when it happened.
At the Feb. 1 meeting, Partington added his praise for Sievers and the department.
“You’ve done an amazing job for our city,” he said. “Police and fire — you never know when you’re going to need them, but they stand at the ready 24/7. The day my childhood home exploded and burned, Dave King was there. I was so impressed with his professionalism, his strength, the way he directed the team, to save as much of the home as they could. It made an impact on me.”
Partington also pointed out that Quartier was the one who responded when Partington had been in a car accident that totaled his vehicle. “The whole Fire Department came and took care of everyone. These are things you would never think would happen to you.”
To conclude, Partington addressed Sievers, saying, “Chief, since you’ve been there, you’ve been an amazing positive force. Everybody loves you. We hate to see you go, though we’re excited for you, to move closer to where your family is.
“The way you treated everyone in your department — they loved you, was the impression I got. That’s a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”
Sievers came to Ormond Beach with with almost 40 years of experience, having started working at the city of Lauderhill in 1979 at 19 years old. He worked his way up the ladder through the assistant fire chief position before he retired in 1999 and joined the Lauderdale Lakes Fire Rescue Department as its new fire chief. Following that, he served as the fire chief for the Broward Sheriff’s Office, moving from being in charge of the Fort Lauderdale International Airport, to Lauderdale-ByThe-Sea, to Cooper City and finally Deerfield Beach.
DWIGHT SELBY, city commissioner
Tom Bazanos, Dave King, Richard Sievers and Nathan Quartier.
Photo by Brian McMillan
COPS CORNER
JAN. 20
BACKPACK BRAWL
8:47 p.m. — First block of South Beach Street Disorderly intoxication. Police arrested a 32-year-old man who initiated a physical fight in a city park over a mistaken backpack.
According to his arrest report, the man thought someone was stealing his backpack and started the fight by elbowing the victim and attempting to kick him in his groin. The 60-year-old victim defended himself and pinned the man to the ground until help arrived.
The man was issued a trespass warning for the park.
JAN. 26
SHRIMP ‘TALES’
10:10 p.m. — 500 block of North Nova Road DUI. A 31-year-old Ormond Beach woman claimed she had passed out in her car because she was exhausted, though officers quickly took note of the “fruity smell” on her breath that they determined was consistent with an alcoholic beverage.
The woman claimed she had only one drink that night — a smoothie with tequila — and that she had not finished it. She agreed to participate in a series of field sobriety exercises, all of which she failed. The woman was detained, and as she was searched, police found two shrimp tails in her jacket pocket.
She was taken to jail.
JAN. 28
TRESPASSED
6:40 p.m. — 500 block of Collins Street Trespassing. Two men were arrested after they were found inside a home’s shed; one of them was eating food and the other was crouched down coloring in a book, according to their arrest reports.
The property owner told police she had never met either of the men. She wished to press charges.
Both men were taken to jail.
TRIBUTES
AnnaJane Teal Gutwein 1932-2021
AnnaJane Teal Gutwein (nee Ritchie), 88, of Ormond Beach, FL passed away on October 28, 2021.
She was buried between her two sons in Union Cemetery, Crystal Lake, IL at a private ceremony. AnnaJane was born November 27, 1932 at Lying Inn Hospital, Chicago, IL to Mildred Yarnell and George Elliott Ritchie whose ancestors in 1689 came to Philadelphia, PA with William Penn on the “Ye Good Ship Welcome”. She enjoyed a successful career and owned numerous beauty salons in Illinois and Florida spanning decades. AnnaJane was very active in numerous social / service organizations including: as a 50 year member in Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) – she served as a former Regent & Treasurer for Captain James Ormond Chapter; a 47 year member in Daughters of the American Colonists (DAC) – she was a former Regent & Vice Regent Daytona Beach Chapter; the Ormond Beach Women’s Club – past president; the Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks Lodge; Women of the Moose; Ormond Beach Historical Trust; Museum of Arts & Sciences & Guild; the Symphony Society; and the Republican Women’s Club. She was a life-long Episcopalian and member of St. James Episcopal Church, Ormond Beach, FL.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Gutwein 1999; her sons: John Ritchie Walker, 1975 and Millard Newton Teal, Jr., 1995; her niece Mildred Gannon Victory 2009; and her sister Edythe Priscilla Ochampaugh 2021.
Two daughters survive her: JoAnn Dimitroff-Wittenborn (Duane) and Janice Teal Roush; four grandchildren: Namon Dimitroff (Rebecca), Asher Dimitroff (Heather), Jackson Roush, and Josephine Roush; one great-grandson Caylum Dimitroff, niece Edythe Corsey, and nephew Robert Burke.
Donations in her memory can be made to St. James Episcopal Church, Ormond Beach, FL or Stuart F. Meyer, Hospice House, Palm Coast, FL.
Job well done, Mom! Rest in peace.
DONATIONS: Donations in her memory can be made to St. James Episcopal Church, Ormond Beach, FL or Stuart F. Meyer, Hospice House, Palm Coast, FL.
