Lakeland, Fla.-(Newsradio 970 WFLA)-City Manager Tony Delgado has appointed Douglas E. Riley as the Lakeland Fire Department’s new Chief. The appointment follows the retirement of Gary W. Ballard, who served as Fire Chief since 2010.
Doug Riley was formerly the department’s Assistant Chief of Operations, prior to his promotion to Fire Chief. Fire Chief Riley has 30 years of public safety experience and has been with the department since 1987. His annual salary will be $136,103.00.
Douglas Riley was hired as a firefighter with the City of Lakeland on March 9, 1987. Throughout his career he has held the following positions; Driver/Engineer (March 1992), Fire Lieutenant (January 1995), Battalion Chief (June 2004) and most recently Assistant Chief of Operations, which he has served as since January 2010.
Photo courtesy City of Lakeland