The municipal fire departments of West Allis and Wauwatosa have officially selected veteran fire service leader Tim Sendelbach to serve as the first chief of their newly consolidated organization, Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue. The announcement marks a critical transitional milestone for the joint entity as it prepares to formally launch combined regional operations ahead of its scheduled operational rollout in 2027.
The appointment was made public through an official announcement on Monday, setting the stage for formal administrative approval. The governing board of directors for the consolidated department is scheduled to convene at Wauwatosa City Hall on Wednesday, September 16, at 5:30 p.m. to finalize Sendelbach’s contract and position. If confirmed as expected, his official first day overseeing the department will be September 28.
The creation of Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue stems from decisive votes cast in February by both the West Allis and Wauwatosa common councils. Facing ongoing municipal budgetary pressures, local elected leaders approved the merger as a strategic initiative designed to achieve long-term cost efficiencies while avoiding the need to cut essential frontline emergency response personnel across both communities.
Bringing Sendelbach on board several months before services officially combine in 2027 is intended to provide dedicated executive leadership throughout the complex transitional phase. The advance timeline allows the incoming chief to coordinate operational protocols, standardize administrative procedures, and align the two previously independent departments into a single unified emergency response system.
Expressing enthusiasm about the regional effort, Sendelbach highlighted the progressive nature of the consolidation in an interview following the announcement. He noted that municipal partnerships in Wisconsin and the broader Milwaukee area represent an effective way to optimize departmental resources and elevate public safety delivery, suggesting that such collaborative frameworks could potentially pave the way for additional communities to join the regional model in the future.
Sendelbach arrives at the helm of Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue with more than four decades of professional experience in the fire service industry. His extensive career spans multiple states and includes extensive tenures in senior executive and chief officer roles, providing him with substantial institutional knowledge in modern emergency response management.
According to statements released by Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue, this deep leadership background was a primary factor in his selection. Department leadership emphasized that his previous exposure to interagency cooperation and administrative management will be vital in executing a coordinated regional model operating under a unified structural hierarchy.
A key focus for Sendelbach as he steps into the role will be establishing a stable and collaborative organizational culture. Having participated in departmental integrations earlier in his career, he emphasized that building a harmonious foundation among personnel from both West Allis and Wauwatosa is essential to long-term success, noting that initial interactions with local crew members have already shown promising momentum.
The formal selection concludes a structured regional hiring process that commenced earlier in the summer. Applications for the top executive post closed in July, leading into a series of candidate screenings and interviews conducted by the organization's leadership throughout August before the final candidate was presented to the public.
Prior to accepting the Wisconsin post, Sendelbach spent five years as the chief of the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority in Colorado, serving from 2021 until earlier this year. His tenure in Colorado concluded following administrative and fiscal disputes with the authority’s governing board, which placed him on paid administrative leave in January and began formal proceedings aimed at terminating his employment agreement.
The move by the Colorado board triggered substantial pushback from frontline personnel and the surrounding community. In response to the board's actions, the local firefighters union passed a formal vote of no confidence against the governing body, while area emergency responders and residents rallied to demonstrate strong public support for Sendelbach.
Reflecting on that turbulent period, Sendelbach credited the widespread backing from local emergency personnel and community members for helping him navigate the administrative fallout over the subsequent seven months. The strong public alignment underscored the deep support he maintained among rank-and-file firefighters during his leadership tenure in Colorado.
The dispute in Loveland was officially resolved in March when the authority board unanimously approved a joint separation agreement. Sendelbach indicated that he initially resisted signing the accord, reiterating that he chose not to resign voluntarily because he maintained conviction in his managerial and fiscal decisions. Records of the mutual separation agreement, which were requested by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, established specific terms including severance compensation, non-disparagement covenants, confidentiality clauses, and mutual waivers of future legal claims.
With the Colorado chapter resolved and the confirmation process underway in Wauwatosa, Sendelbach is now positioned to focus entirely on guiding Milwaukee Metro Fire Rescue. His leadership will serve as the guiding force as the combined West Allis and Wauwatosa personnel navigate the remaining structural preparations necessary to deliver integrated emergency services by 2027.
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