News

By Ron Hayes

    City Manager Don Cooper has named Neal de Jesus, a veteran fire chief of two South Florida departments, to replace Chief Danielle Connor, who retires May 31 after a 23-year career with Delray Beach.
    De Jesus, 54, retired from Coral Gables Fire-Rescue in 2002 after a 20-year career with that city. In 2010, he resigned after two years as a city commissioner of Cooper City to join the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, which he left in 2013 after the election of Sheriff Scott Israel.
    In announcing de Jesus’ selection, Cooper said he would begin work in early May to provide a smooth transition by working with Connor.
    “I am excited for the opportunity to serve alongside Fire Chief Connor during the transition as I begin to lead the men and women of this great organization,” de Jesus said in a statement.
     “I am confident that by committing to working collaboratively with the community, all fire rescue personnel, the union leadership and city staff, we will build a team that delivers an extremely high level of service that sets the standard for best practice and which is second to none.”
    Connor introduced de Jesus at the April 12 Delray Beach City Commission meeting.
    Mayor Cary Glickstein thanked Connor for her professionalism and dignified manner in running the department, particularly in the past few years when two consolidations with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue were considered.

Jane Smith contributed to this story.