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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2018
Contact: Liz Xiong
liz.xiong@ci.stpaul.mn.us
651-357-8448
Mayor Carter
Appoints Long-Time Public Servant and Retired Air Force Veteran Butch Inks to Serve as Interim Fire Chief
SAINT PAUL – Mayor Carter announced today that he has appointed Butch Inks as Interim Fire Chief. Inks succeeds Matthew Simpson, who became Acting Fire Chief when Tim Butler stepped down last October. Inks will assume his duties as Interim Fire Chief on Saturday, January 6.
"Butch Inks has served the City of Saint Paul in our Fire Department for more than 20 years," said Mayor Carter. "He has supported the department in a wide array of positions, and through this work, he is well positioned to lead the department as Interim Fire Chief.”
Inks grew up in the Rice Street and Como area. He attended Como Elementary, Washington Junior High School, and graduated from Como Park High School. He has served as an employee of the City of St. Paul since 1985, starting his career in the Parks and Recreation Department. He began his career with the Fire Department in 1994 as a Firefighter.
Since then, he has held a variety of positions within the department, including Fire Equipment Operator, Rescue Squad Captain, District Chief, Special Operations Chief, Community Relations Chief, Deputy Chief and Assistant Chief. In these roles, he has been responsible for the management of the budget and daily operations of all fire personnel, stations, and apparatus. He also assisted in the development of the department's Racial Equity Plan.
Inks is a retired Air Force Veteran. He served 26 honorable years, before retiring in 2012 from the United States Air Force fire department as a Deputy Fire Chief. His military experience includes numerous deployments to various parts of the world where he assisted in developing training programs still being used today.
"My goal as Interim Fire Chief is to build relationships within the community, City departments and within our fire department," said Butch Inks. "With strong relationships, we can all move forward in our goal of serving all of the people of Saint Paul. By adopting the service before self attitude, we can make Saint Paul a city that works for all of us."
Inks is currently enrolled at the University of Northwestern, completing his degree in Business Management. In addition to his work, Inks is a volunteer coach in hockey, baseball, girls’ fastpitch softball and supports the Sheridan Story-Fighting Child Hunger.
The City Council has established a twenty member Fire Chief Qualifications and Examining Committee to select the next Fire Chief.
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