Homegrown fireman named interim chief
Battalion Chief Ken Shuck was named the city’s interim fire chief. Photo courtesy of the Manhattan Beach Fire Dept.
by Andrea Ruse
Manhattan Beach can add “fire chief” to its list of positions staffed by interim employees, directly after the head post of city manager.
Thirty-year Manhattan Beach Fire Department veteran Ken Shuck, 53, began March 22 serving as Interim Fire Chief. Former Chief Scott Ferguson ended his two-year stint with the city two weeks ago.
Ferguson, who recommended to the city that Shuck fill the interim position, started Monday as chief of Santa Monica’s Fire Department.
“When [Ferguson] suggested that my name be put in, I was honored and humbled by his trust in me,” Shuck said. “We were able to work together for two years and I learned a lot from him. I hope to continue that and add my own touch also.”
Shuck — one of three battalion chiefs with the department — trained with the former chief during his last week. Until the city hires a permanent fire chief, Shuck will head a 31-person staff and continue the implementation of a strategic plan that Ferguson helped develop to achieve departmental goals.
“I’m confident that Chief Shuck will do a great job,” said Interim City Manager Richard Thompson in a statement Thursday. “It is expected that he will continue in this position as we recruit and select a permanent Chief.”
The Torrance resident has held every position in the department, including firefighter, engineer, captain, fire marshal and battalion chief. He has been a paramedic for 22 years and has been involved as a paramedic coordinator, budget officer, arson investigator, terrorism liaison officer and reserve firefighter program coordinator.
“One thing about firefighting is that respect is gained by experience,” Shuck said. “As interim chief, I feel I will be a good leader based on the experience I have. I’ve worked every job, so it has been a natural progression to this point.”
The timeline for hiring a permanent fire chief will depend on the search for a new city manager. In December, former city manager Geoff Dolan left after 15 years with the city.
Thompson, director of the city’s Community Development Dept., took over as interim city manager.
Next Tuesday the City Council will vote on whether to hire the recruitment firm of Ralph Andersen and Associates to conduct the city manager search, which Thompson said should take roughly six months.
“The plan is to hire the firm and move forward with the recruitment of a new city manager,” Thompson said. “My sense is that the City Council wants the new city manager to initiate the search for a new fire chief.”
Thompson would not comment directly on whether he will be a candidate for the city manager position.
“I’m interested in doing it on an interim basis,” Thompson said. “The City Council and I have on-going discussions about it, but we have not yet arrived at any conclusions.”
Shuck, on the other hand, made no secret of his wish to permanently lead the city’s fire department.
“I’m definitely interested,” Shuck said. “If they’d have me I’d love to be the new chief…But it could be anybody.” ER