Monarch Fire Protection District Promotes Three

Three district officers were promoted at Thursday's Monarch Fire Protection District board of directors meeting at the district's headquarters. Monarch Fire Marshal Roger Herin released background information about the officers in a Tuesday press release.

John Borgmann will be Monarch's assistant chief in charge of operations. As a 31-year veteran, he was hired as a firefighter in January of 1981. He was promoted to captain in 1988, and to battalion chief in 2006. 

Nick Harper will be Monarch's deputy chief supervising emergency medical services. Hired in April of 1979 as a firefighter, he is a 33-year veteran. He became a paramedic in 1991, and was promoted to captain in 2000.

Robin Echele will be Monarch's deputy chief in charge of training and special rescue services. He is a 22-year veteran who was hired as a firefighter/paramedic in August of 1990, then promoted to captain in 2000, and to training officer in 2001. 

Two of the three new chiefs were after :  Battalion Chief Fred Goodson, Assistant Chief Les Crews, Deputy Chief Cary Spiegel and Battalion Chief Mike Davis. Monarch's board members at the time referenced a $1 million court decision against the district that upheld four women by higher-ranking officers. Within 16 days of that development, outside his Kirkwood, MO, home. 

Monarch has 125 employees, five firehouses and covers 55 square miles.