Press Releases

Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr. has appointed Richard Miller as Dearborn’s new fire chief.

Miller retired as senior battalion chief from the Dearborn department in 2007 and moved on to high level jobs in the private sector.

Miller has an extensive education background in fire science. He  graduated from Eastern Michigan University’s School of Fire Staff and Command in 2001, from Madonna University in 1984 with a bachelor of science degree in fire science/occupational safety and health, and from Henry Ford Community College in 1980 with an associate’s degree in fire science.

He has professional certifications in many areas from the State of Michigan Firefighters Training Council, including in incident command, tactical operations and hazardous materials and is certified as a fire inspector and an emergency medical technician.

Mayor O’Reilly said he chose Miller from a pool of strong candidates because of his background with the Dearborn department, his education credentials, and his experience in the private sector.

O’Reilly said that Miller’s combined experience can provide a complementary perspective as the city continues to address financial challenges, including the need to increase efficiencies across the board, manage limited resources, and still produce desirable results.

“I’m pleased to appoint Richard Miller to the top leadership position and know that he will work well with the outstanding men and women of our Fire Department to continue to move it forward,” said O’Reilly.

“His priority is my priority: to keep providing excellent public safety services to the residents of Dearborn,” said O’Reilly.

“He also has a good understanding of how to maintain that high standard within the economic reality that all cities face today,” O’Reilly said.

O’Reilly also praised Dean Creech, who had been acting fire chief since the retirement of Nazih Hazime last summer. Creech had only recently become deputy chief before stepping into the larger role.

“Chief Creech has done an excellent job leading the department and preserving the high standards residents expect. I want to thank him for his dedicated and professional service to Dearborn, not only as acting chief, but throughout his entire career,”  O’Reilly said. Creech is retiring on June 30.

Miller began his career as a firefighter in Dearborn in 1982, rising in the ranks as fire inspector in 1992, fire lieutenant in 1998, fire captain in 2002 and senior battalion chief in 2004.

In 2007, he was hired as the Operations Manager for K & S services in Southgate, where he managed 19 electronic repair technicians, directed the shipping and receiving department and supervised safety and building maintenance.

In 2009, he joined RAMCO Gershenson (REIT) in Farmington Hills as Operations Manager in the Retail Maintenance Services Division. He directed and reorganized the corporate maintenance division by analyzing logistical changes that increase profits and reduce costs, and initiated new revenue programs.

Miller is a lifelong Dearborn resident and has volunteered for the Burn Drive, Dearborn Goodfellows, Meals on Wheels and Divine Child Parish.

He is expected to start his new job as fire chief very shortly. According to the Dearborn City Charter, the mayor recommends a salary for the fire chief, and that recommendation must be approved by the City Council. The Council is expected to meet soon on the matter.