As part of a promotion ceremony, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Chief Brian Mayo, left, swears in Capt. Drew Shilling, Lt. Brandon Allen and Lt. Max Kinsey on Wednesday, Feb. 28.

By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — The promotion of three Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory firefighters were recognized during a ceremony Wednesday, Feb. 28, at station 15, formerly station 3, 620 W. CR 200S.

Taking oaths of office as part of the ceremony were Drew Shilling, who was promoted from lieutenant to captain; and Max Kinsey and Brandon Allen, both of whom were promoted from firefighters to lieutenants.

Before giving the three men their oaths, Chief Brian Mayo said, “This is a promotion ceremony. They were actually promoted back in December of last year, and because we promoted two battalion chiefs last year because of two retirements last year, you can see the trickle-down effect. So, one captain, two lieutenants and we actually have more promotions coming up later this year. It just brings me pure joy to see this happening and we get to celebrate today.”

After the oaths, each of the men’s wives pinned their badges on their uniforms.

Kinsey has been a part of the fire department for 16-1/2 years.

On the promotion, he said, “Really to me, the promotion just means having a say, kind of guidance, helping the guys get to where they want to be.”

Shilling has been with the department for 11 years. He said being promoted from lieutenant to captain means “a little bit more responsibility as far as, basically, in our department, the captain just has more responsibility and station meetings and station upkeep, stuff like that.”

Allen also has been with the department for 11 years.

“I’m just excited to get to claim a little responsibility for our crew. And just help make sure everybody stays safe and to make good decisions together and someone’s got to be responsible for that, so I guess that’s me,” he said.

Mayo said last year when they had the two battalion chief retirements, two men were promoted to battalion chiefs, one being a captain and one a lieutenant.

“So when we promoted another captain, that created two more lieutenant positions. So we have Captain Drew Shilling, Lt. Max Kinsey and Lt. Brandon Allen. And those were the three moved up to those vacancies,” he said.

The men had to apply for the promotions and go through “a very rigorous promotion that included a written exam, an oral interview and a tactical exercise that they all competed against their peers to get those positions,” Mayo explained.

Shilling, Kinsey and Allen were the guys that scored the highest and best.

“We used outside peers from other fire agencies, so there was more transparency with this process, and that’s what we’re trying to get in this organization — a little more transparency, a little bit more fair and equitable for everyone. So we had outside evaluators come in as part of our process and it worked out really well,” Mayo stated.

Pictured (L to R) are Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory Capt. Drew Shilling having his badge pinned on his uniform by his wife Loranna; Lt. Brandon Allen being pinned by his wife Amelia; and Lt. Max Kinsey being pinned by his wife Mary during a promotion ceremony Wednesday.