Peabody Fire Chief Awarded 3-Year Contract Extension

PEABODY, MA — Peabody Fire Chief Jay Dowling will be on the job for another three years after Mayor Ted Bettencourt said on Tuesday that the three-decade department veterans had agreed to a three-year contract extension.

Dowling was promoted to fire chief in 2023.

"I look forward to continuing the work and responsibilities of being chief," Dowling said. "It is a great honor to be able to lead the men and women of the Peabody Fire Department and to serve and protect the citizens of my hometown."

The Peabody Veterans Memorial High School alumnus earned an associate degree in fire science from Northshore Community College and his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Salem State University.

He is certified by the Massachusetts Fire Academy in Fire Prevention, Hazardous Materials, and Advanced Fire Investigation.

Sworn in as a firefighter in 1996, Dowling became a lieutenant in 2001, a captain in 2004, and deputy chief in 2021.

A longtime member of the Peabody Fire Honor Guard, Dowling also served as President of the Peabody Fire Department Relief Association.

"I am happy to renew Chief Dowling's contract," Bettencourt said. "His leadership has been key to keeping our community safe, and I am confident in the continued success he’ll bring to the department."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)