Goodyear council honors retiring fire battalion chief

By Delarita Ford
Mail | X: @AzNewsmedia

Goodyear City Council members recognized Goodyear Fire Department Battalion Chief Darrin Green for his 24-years of dedicated service with the department during a meeting Monday.

Fire Chief Paul Luizzi presented Green, who is retiring, with an award during the regular Aug. 31 meeting in City Hall Council Chambers, 1900 N. Civic Square.

He thanked the U.S. Navy veteran who served 26 years in the fire service, including 24 years with the Goodyear Fire Department, for his leadership that in advancing the department’s operational readiness, safety programs, and long-term infrastructure planning.

“I am honored and humbled to be part of this organization. I am proud of the work that we have done,” said Luizzi, noting the changes and challenges he underwent during his years of public service.

Luizzi noted contributions Green made during his career to help build the department’s culture and community presence, from being a founding member of the Goodyear Fire Honor Guard and United Goodyear Firefighter Charities, to starting the local 9-11 Pancake Breakfast, and teaching hundreds of firefighters.

Green also helped to establish the Goodyear Hazardous Materials Team and served as a founding member of the Arizona Counter Terrorism Program, leading Goodyear Fire’s preparedness and threat-assessment efforts for nearly two decades. He also developed the department’s training compliance guide, which is used by multiple fire departments statewide.

As logistics chief, he created the department’s asset replacement plan and assisted with designing and constructing almost every fire station, apparatus, and support vehicle in service today.

Council members recounted the times Green helped them and their families during their emergency situations.

“Thank you for your service to this city. Thank you again for everything,” said Councilmember Vicki Gillis, adding her experience of how respectful and kind he was throughout his career.

Other council members shared the same sentiments and echoed how much of an impact Green has had on the city.

“Your fingerprints are all over the city, from 2002 to now,” said Vice Mayor Brannon Hampton.

“You may be leaving, but your fingerprints aren’t,” added Councilmember Trey Terry.

Meanwhile, the public is invited to Goodyear’s Annual 9/11 Memorial Ceremony and Pancake Breakfast, 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Sept. 5, at Goodyear Fire Station 183, 3075 N. Litchfield Road.

The event begins with a flag raising ceremony at 8 a.m., followed by a pancake breakfast served by Goodyear firefighters on a first-come, first-served basis. The event is free to attend.

Delarita Ford can be reached at dford@iniusa.org. Submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Delarita Ford
Lead Reporter | Surprise

dford@iniusa.org

Meet Delarita
Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.

Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.

Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories. 

Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.

Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.