Nashville Fire Chief Retires After DUI Arrest

NASHVILLE, TN — After nearly 40 years as a firefighter and a little more than a year at the helm, Nashville Fire Department Chief Rick White is retiring following an October DUI arrest. Commander William Swann will serve as Interim Director Chief.

Mayor Megan Barry's office said White had already planned on retiring in 2018, but asked the mayor to "accelerate" the process following the drunken-driving charge.

“Earlier this year, Chief White informed me that he would be seeking retirement by 2018," Barry said. "This week, he informed me of his arrest on DUI charges and asked to take leave and accelerate his retirement plans. I accepted his decision so that he may seek any help he might need while ensuring the Fire Department was in good hands with Chief Swann.”

White, a Nashville native, joined the department in 1978 and was appointed to chief by the mayor in September 2016.

“When I came on this job, all I wanted to be was a good firefighter," White said. "It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve with Nashville’s bravest over the last 40 years. I greatly appreciate the opportunity given to me by Mayors Dean and Barry to serve as Chief these past few years, and I want to thank all of the members of the Nashville Fire Department who worked with me during my career to make ours one of the best departments in the nation.”

Swann, who joined NFD in 1993, has been serving as White's chief of staff and leading Metro's Office of Emergency Management.

Image via Nashville Fire Department