Cross Country Search Brings New Fire Chief in from Nevada

The nationwide search is complete and after months of interviews narrowing down prospective replacements for soon-to-retire Meriden Fire Chief James Trainor, the city has found his successor.

City officials confirmed Tuesday that Meriden has hired Kenneth Morgan, a near 30-year fire veteran from Clark County, Nev., to take over the helm when Trainor retires on August 30.

For the past 25-years, Morgan has served in a variety of capacities with the Clark County Fire Department in Henderson, Nev., including most recently as deputy fire chief, according to firenation.com.

In his role, he was overseeing 650 different personnel assigned to three separate battalions.

Morgan, 54, brings experience as not only a firefighter, but has training as a CFO designate, a Master’s degree in Public Administration and has worked to earn his doctorate.

During Morgan’s time as deputy chief, the Clark County Fire Department was the subject of an investigation into alleged “planned sick time” in 2011, according to reports from 8 News NOW in Nevada. The investigation, however, found that Morgan was not involved in any wrongdoing nor had any potential knowledge of the alleged conspiracy.

Morgan will start with a salary of $105,000 and will join Trainor in mid-July to help ease the transition, officials said.

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