Deputy Fire Chief Pacheco Retires After 39 Years

Deputy Chief Fire Officer John L. Pacheco has retired after 39 years of service, after beginning his career with the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, then known as the Hamilton Fire Brigade in February 1972 at the age of 21.

Having come from the construction industry, DCFO Pacheco successfully embraced the high work ethic required in such an industry into his new found career as a firefighter. After only two years in the Service in 1974, Mr Pacheco successfully qualified as a Leading Fireman and fulfilled the full responsibilities of the post in 1977.

He became a grade one driver in September 1978. Mr Pacheco quickly established himself as a leader early in his career, this being evidenced by the comments of one of his supervisors at the time: “If he wanted to be, he could be a good leader.”

Pictured below: Minister of National Security Wayne Perinchief, and Chief Fire Officer Vincent Hollinsid are pictured wishing DCFO John Pacheco well:

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 1985 then Lieutenant in 1987, DCFO Pacheco was instrumental in creating a positive, respectable and professional image for the Service in his capacity as the Staff Officer. He was then promoted to Divisional Officer in 1989 and served as the Head of both the Training and Operations Divisions.

Over the past eight years, DCFO Pacheco served as the Deputy Chief Fire Officer after being promoted in 2002, and has also been deputized as the Acting Chief Fire Officer on several occasions.

He always sought to improve his skills and knowledge having participated in may educational training programs at The Bermuda College, West Yorkshire Fire Service, U.K., The Ontario Fire College in Canada, Fire Service College in Moreton-on-Marsh, U.K. and numerous local self development courses.

A spokesperson said, “DCFO Pacheco will be remembered for his integrity, honesty and consistency. If it needed to be said, he said it; if an unpopular decision needed to taken, he made it with confidence.”

“He was also known for his, well – not so fast, driving and often debated with Chief Fire Officer Hollinsid about who arrived at an incident first. Most times it was not the car with the call sign Delta 2.”

“DCFO Pacheco‘s knowledge of the core workings of this service will be certainly missed. He was one who knew every rule or General Order as they are referred in the Service. If he didn’t know it, rest assured he knew where to find it.”

“This subsequently resulted in his favorite words ‘write a report’. DCFO Pacheco was also one of two Service ‘penny pincher’”. Together they held the purse strings so tight that the best island ‘purse snatcher’ couldn’t tug that purse free; and many tried without success.”

“The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service would like to sincerely thank DCFO John Pacheco for his commitment, dedication and loyalty over the course of his career.”

“A very special thank you to the Pacheco family; John’s wife Debbie, his sons Stephen, Nicholas and Mark for their patience over the past 39 years. Thank you for allowing the Service to behold a dedicated leader and a great friend.”

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