Johnson told this news outlet that prior to coming to the district, he enrolled in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP), which has “very specific requirements” about the minimum/maximum time an individual can participate.
He said his decision to retire and come back as fire chief was simply a personal decision on his part to “put this to bed” and get on with running MVFD.
“This department and the people here are second to none of any place I have worked over my 35-year career,” he said. ““I am very excited about the future of the Fire District and look forward to being a part of it.”
Johnson served as Lebanon Fire Division chief from November 2016 through early 2023, when he left to become MVFD battalion chief.
He started his service with LFD in 2007, and was promoted from lieutenant to captain in 2013, city officials there previously said. He was a team leader on the Warren County Technical Rescue Team and a tactical medic on the Warren County Tactical Response Unit.
Johnson was hired last spring at an annual salary of $123,000. A performance-based wage increase of $5,000 took effect at the beginning of this month, said Miamisburg City Council Member and MVFD board President John Stalder.
The raise had “nothing to do with the retire or rehire,” Stalder said, adding that “on behalf of the board of trustees, Chief Johnson is outstanding leader and an outstanding citizen in our community.”
MVFD has 84 employees, which includes all operational personnel as well as administrative and prevention bureau staff. It provides service to Miamisburg and Miami Twp., which have a combined population of 52,000.
For 2023, the fire district fielded 10,615 calls for service.
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