The West County EMS & Fire Protection District has not had a fire chief since June, when former fire chief David Frazier was "reassigned" from fire chief to deputy chief of logistics.

As previously reported by Town and Country - Manchester Patch, Deputy Chief Jeff Sadtler has served as acting fire chief of the district since the change and a search for a new chief got underway.

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Fire board members told Patch that the application period for the local and national search ended July 27.

A committee then reviewed the candidates. That committee consisted of West County fire board members, chiefs of surrounding fire districts which are members of Central Country 911(including Creve Coeur, Monarch, Metro West and Maryland Heights), Town and Country Police Chief and City Administrator John Copeland and Firefighters Local 2665 Shop Steward Rich Minda.

Now Sadtler tells Patch, the candidate review process is complete and an announcement on West County's new chief is likely Thursday.

"The board is hopeful to make a decision Thursday afternoon on the future of the next cheif," Sadter explained. "The veting process has been multiple meetings, multiple interviews. A very thorough process that involved a lot of people."

Sadtler does point out there could be a delay in the annoucement due to the detailed process behind hiring a new chief.

As previously reported by Patch, former fire chief David Frazier's position changed from fire chief to deputy chief of logistics on June 11. Frazier has been with the fire district since 1987 and served as fire chief since 2004. He tells Patch he was not given an official reason from board members on why he was no longer the fire district's chief and he found out about the job change after the board voted on it.

Fire board members didn't give Patch a clear reason either on why Frazier is no longer EMS and fire chief, but everyone Patch has talked to since the change avoids the word "demotion."

"It's just all about betterment. We're looking for betterment for this district for the future," Richard Rognan, fire board chair, told Patch this week. "Dave's well positioned as the deputy chief of logistics."

The West County fire district serves a number of cities, including Town and Country, Manchester and nearby parts of unincorporated St. Louis County. 

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