Today, Mayor Michael Helfrich announces the retirement of Chief Chad Deardorff from the position of Chief of City of York Department of Fire/Rescue Services. Chief Deardorff will be succeeded by Deputy Chief William Sleeger.
Chief Deardorff began his career with the department on March 6th, 1995. He is a graduate of Columbia Southern University where he earned a Master’s Degree in Business and Public Administration. He is a graduate of the National Fire Academies Executive Fire Officers Program (EFOP) and has been awarded the Chief Fire Officer designation from the Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC). He is a member of the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Board, the Fire Chiefs, and Firefighters Association of York County Board, EMS Section Board, and Executive Fire Officers Board for the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Deardorff is the recipient of three department commendations, a unit citation, and was named Firefighter of the Year in 2005. He was appointed Chief of City of York Department of Fire/Rescue Services on February 2nd, 2019.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the residents and visitors of the City of York. I have had the distinct pleasure of working with some of the best Firefighters this profession has ever seen.” said Deardorff “I am beyond proud to have been the leader of such a talented and dedicated group of individuals that make the City of York Department of Fire/Rescue Services the best department in the state.”
He will be succeeded by Deputy Chief William H. Sleeger, Jr. who will be named Acting Chief on March 26th, 2021.
Deputy Chief William H. Sleeger, Jr. started with the Department on March 9, 1992. Prior to his appointment with the department, Chief Sleeger served our country as a member of the United States Navy. He graduated from the HACC fire academy and was assigned to A Platoon as a firefighter. He was promoted to Captain on May 30th, 2015 and served as the Captain on A Platoon. He was promoted to Assistant Chief on January 11, 2019 and served as the Assistant Chief of B Platoon.
Deputy Chief Sleeger is a decorated member of the department receiving numerous awards throughout his career including a Chief’s commendation in 1994 for performing CPR on a victim of cardiac arrest while on vacation at Busch Gardens. Deputy Chief Sleeger was named the Department’s 1997 Firefighter of the Year. In 1998, he was awarded for the rescue of an elderly lady trapped on the second floor of a fire on Pattison St. While on duty in May of 2015, he was awarded for his role in working under a chaotic and dangerous scene, treating two victims suffering from gunshot wounds after a large fight broke out in front of Station 2. In 2016 Deputy Chief Sleeger was part of a crew that rescued a civilian who was struck and pinned by a vehicle. He also received a Chief‘s commendation for his role in the rescue of trapped firefighters at the collapse at the Weaver Organ and Piano Building.
Deputy Chief Sleeger is a part of a family committed to the safety of York City. His late father served the city as a police officer and his brother Chuck is currently a firefighter in our department.
“On behalf of the entire City of York I want to thank Chief Deardorff for his decades of service in our community.” said Mayor Michael Helfrich “Chief Deardorff pulled the team together and supported our firefighters during some of the most difficult emotional times that our fire department has ever seen. Additionally, I greatly respect the Chief’s choice to take on a role where he is able to spend more time with his young children and have the opportunity to be more interactive in their lives. I am thrilled that Deputy Chief Sleeger has accepted the Acting Chief position and I look forward to working closely with him.”
