Get to know: new fire chief, Bob Falardeau
On June 2, nearly ten year veteran Fire Chief Norman Malcolm retired from the Palatine fire department. He was replaced with his right-hand man, Bob Falardeau. Falardeau has worked for the department for 29 years.
As a long-time member of the Palatine fire department, you know how things are run, and I’m sure have been making plans for how you’re going to run the department. Are there any major changes or initiatives you’re working on?
I see my task here as not to just run the fire department, but to bring along the next generation of leaders for the department. We have outstanding personnel and I truly enjoy mentoring them. I am looking for them to step up and play a role in the future of the department.
I am also looking for continued involvement, participation and creativity. The economy is down right now so I am looking for our people to work smarter than ever before and to help find ways to keep our operating costs down.
Was there any great advice or lessons you learned from former Fire Chief Norman Malcolm?
I served as Chief Malcolm’s Operations Deputy for nearly ten years. I also served under him for many years as a company officer back when he was a shift commander. He has been an outstanding teacher, mentor and role model. I could not begin to list all the valuable lessons or good advice I received from him throughout the years. But if I had to point to one thing in particular, I would have to say that he always urged us to reach for excellence in everything we do. This is so important to the quality of service we provide and I am proud to say that this approach has become part of the culture of Palatine Fire Department. Our personnel know it and live by it.
What can you tell us about the department’s upcoming site on Quentin Road?
A special fire department committee extensively studied the best location for a fire station to significantly improve response times in the west and northwest regions of Palatine. The site selected at Quentin and Echo gives us quick access in all directions, but especially to the west using either Dundee Road or Northwest Highway. Our present station on Dundee is farther east and does not give us the much needed quick access to Northwest Highway or Lake Cook Road. I commend our station site committee for their efforts to find the very best location based on improving response times.
You’ve lived in Palatine most of your life. What are you favorite things about Palatine? Places, events, memories?
I was a Navy brat before my parents moved us to Palatine after my Dad retired from the service. I was nearing my teenage years by that time. After moving around so much it was nice to finally stay in one place. Because of that, Palatine has really been the only real home I’ve ever known. I grew up here and went to school here and after college I came back here. In paramedic school, it didn’t take me very long to realize that Palatine Fire Department was where I wanted to spend my career. Obviously, that was one of the greatest decisions I ever made. This is where my wife and I decided to live and raise our three children. Because of my experiences, I fully understand and appreciate just how special Palatine is to a kid, to a parent, to a resident, and to a career firefighter. I never take it for granted.
What makes the Palatine fire department unique, in your mind?
That’s an easy one: it’s our people! Any fire department is mostly about the personnel, not just the stations or the vehicles. Of course, ours are well trained and well equipped, as many other municipal firefighters are. While no department has perfect employees, I will stand ours up against all others in the kind of people they are and what they bring to the job each and every day. They are compassionate, caring, dedicated, motivated, well-educated, brave and aggressive. That is the high bar set here at Palatine and why I am incredibly proud to be their new Chief.
—By Michelle Stoffel, Triblocal.com reporter
