PIKEVILLE, Ky. — Pikeville Fire Chief Patrick Bentley will retire Sept. 30, the city announced Thursday.
Bentley has been with the department for 28 years and has served as chief since 2018.
“The City of Pikeville has benefitted from Chief Bentley’s dedication for nearly 30 years,” Pikeville Mayor Jimmy Carter said. “His lifetime of service saved countless lives and we are grateful for his time.
“While we will greatly miss him at the firehouse, the city will begin our search for his successor immediately. Fire and Emergency Medical Services is a vital public service, and we will do a thorough search to ensure we put the best person in charge.”
During his time at the Pikeville Fire Department, Chief Bentley continuously worked to ensure that the community had the best resources possible to prevent and fight fires and respond to medical emergencies. Thanks to his help with design and securing funding, the city will be getting several new fire trucks and ambulances in the coming year.
“After nearly 30 years at the fire department, nearly everyone in Pikeville has been impacted in one way or another by Chief Bentley’s service to our community,” Pikeville City Manager Philip Elswick said. “We thank him for all the energy and time he has devoted to our town and wish him well in retirement.”
Bentley will continue to serve as fire chief until the end of September. The search for a new fire chief will begin immediately.
“It’s been the honor of my life to serve the people of Pikeville,” Bentley said. “I love this community and was blessed to have the opportunity to spend my entire career doing what I love — keeping my neighbors, family, and friends safe. Making the decision to leave was not an easy one, but I am excited to spend more time with my family in retirement.”
