Perez Honored for Years of Service

City Manager Al Childress, Commissioners Lissette Carey and Jimmy Weekley, Deputy Fire chief Eddie Perez, Mayor Teri Johnston, and Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman. Commissioners Mary Lou Hoover and Clayton Lopez were in attendance via Zoom.

During Thursday’s City Commission meeting, the City’s Human Resources Department honored Key West Deputy Fire Chief Eddie Perez for 20 years of dedicated service to the City or Key West.

Born and raised in Key West, Edward “Eddie” Perez, Jr. began his love for firefighting as a Fire Cadet while attending Key West High School under the direction of retired Division Chief Craig Marsden. After completing the Fire College and EMT school Perez was hired on April 5, 2004.

Perez continued to hit milestones throughout his career, becoming a paramedic and then Driver/ Engineer in 2014. Key West Fire Department took on ambulance service later that year, opening the door for Perez to become the City’s first Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division Chief at the Key West Fire Department.  Perez was instrumental in developing the EMS Division training and operations.

“His dedication and hard work left a legacy of success for the EMS program,” noted HR’s Alice Parker. “In 2020, Eddie was promoted to Deputy Chief.”

“Thank you to everybody,” said Perez in accepting the honor. “I look forward to another 20 years at least.”

In the photo: City Manager Al Childress, Commissioners Lissette Carey and Jimmy Weekley, Deputy Fire chief Eddie Perez, Mayor Teri Johnston, and Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman. Commissioners Mary Lou Hoover and Clayton Lopez were in attendance via Zoom.