Spahn Wants Cohn to Replace Him Permanently as Fire Chief

It is no secret that wants the same man chosen to replace him on an interim basis to do so permanently.

Battalion Chief Jon Cohn, who has been with the department since November 2009 after serving as fire chief for nearly three years in Greendale, is as qualified a candidate as there is, according to Spahn.

"I told the mayor and the (Police and Fire) commission that he’d be their best choice as interim and full-appointed chief," Spahn said Monday afternoon. "He was the person I needed in here to complete my (department restructuring) process and I was fortunate to get him from Greendale.

"He’s very well rounded, went thought the consolidation process in the North Shore and he’d be my choice to replace me if I have any say in it after I leave."

The city's Police and Fire Commission has the final word in selecting the new fire chief, but Spahn said should the commission choose Cohn, the transition would be relatively seamless. Spahn also conceded part of the reason he chose June 1 for his retirement date as opposed to the end of the year was so that Cohn could get a handle on the big issues the department is facing.

"It’s better that the interim gets in on the ground floor now in regards to what’s going to happen with consolidation discussions, union contract negotiations, all of those things," Spahn said.

In an interview with Greenfield Patch last month, Cohn .