UPDATE: After this brief was published, the city issued a statement saying that Pierce was stepping down for “purposes of retirement.” –LINK nky editorial, Feb. 22, 2024
Covington’s Fire Chief Mark Pierce will resign his post as of March 31, according to a city press release.
“I love Covington, and I love being a firefighter in Covington,” Pierce said in the release. “But wise people always told me ‘you’ll know when it’s time to leave,’ and that time has come.”
Pierce was first hired onto the force in 1995 and has served as the chief since 2018.
Although it is not mentioned in the city release, the resignation occurred amid tensions between the city and Professional Firefighters Local 38, Covington’s fire union, about overtime. Tuesday’s commission meeting saw the city commissioners publicly express disapproval of Pierce’s recommendation to reduce the required number of on-duty firefighters following public criticisms of the policy from the union.
The release states the city has already begun looking for a new chief.