HOBOKEN–Fire Chief Richard Blohm has indicated his plans to retire on Monday, June 1, according to a press release issued by the city of Hoboken on May 28. The administration of Mayor Dawn Zimmer will soon appoint a provisional fire chief to lead the department while a full search for Blohm’s permanent replacement takes place.
This full process entails administering a Civil Service Chief’s test to Fire Department officers and conducting a series of interviews with the highest scoring candidates. The mayor will then select a chief and the City Council will approve their contract.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to Chief Blohm for his 38 years of service to the City of Hoboken,” said Zimmer. “I am confident the Fire Department will build on the progress of Chief Blohm’s tenure and continue to respond to the needs of our community.”
The press release indicated that “the Fire Department has been operating with an officer in charge over the past few weeks and will continue to do so until a Provisional Chief is named,” which would suggest that Blohm has been functionally retired for some time.
As of the week of May 2, Fire Department employees indicated to The Hoboken Reporter that Blohm was on vacation.
City spokesman Juan Melli said the officer in charge in Blohm’s absence has been a battalion chief, of which the Hoboken Fire Department has seven.
Blohm did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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