City of Rockford Firefighters Local 413

10/09/2026

Well said Representative Cabello.

Rockford City Hall has a public safety crisis, and Acting Mayor Janessa Neal and the City Council own it.

Police officers are working without a contract.

Firefighters are working without a contract.

911 operators are reportedly being forced to work more than 12 days in a row.

And City Hall’s answer to its budget problems? Put as many as 20 police officers on the chopping block, including detectives who investigate shootings, violent crimes, and the cases that keep dangerous people off our streets.

Enough!

You cannot claim public safety is a priority while refusing to take care of the very people responsible for providing it.

Fire has already lost Medic 4. Calls for service did not disappear when that ambulance did.

Our 911 dispatchers should not have to work themselves into the ground because City Hall cannot properly staff the center.

And Rockford families should not have fewer police officers and detectives protecting them because politicians cannot get their financial house in order.

Tom McNamara left. The City Council chose Janessa Neal to finish the term. But the problems did not leave with him.

No police contract.

No fire contract.

Overworked 911 dispatchers.

And now potentially fewer cops on the street.

This is not leadership. This is a failure to perform one of the most basic responsibilities of government: keeping people safe.

Acting Mayor Neal and the City Council need to stop making excuses.

SIGN THE CONTRACTS.

STAFF 911.

TAKE POLICE LAYOFFS OFF THE TABLE.

Public safety is not where you go looking for spare change when the budget gets tight.

The men and women answering 911 calls, running toward fires, responding to shootings, investigating murders, and protecting Rockford deserve better.

More importantly, the people of Rockford deserve better.

10/08/2026

Today after over 26 years of service to the City of Rockford Government and the Rockford Fire Department, roughly 10 years with the Belvidere Fire Department prior to that, and over 40 years in the fire service in general, Lieutenant Curt Gazouski is calling it a career. Brother Gazouski’s career has been one for the ages. One that saw him as a longtime fixture at our training academy, member of the dive team (both Rockford & Belvidere), and an instructor for the Illinois Fire Service Institute. Aside from all of that, Brother Gazouski leaves behind a legacy of being one of those guys that simply did the job the right way. It has been an honor and a privilege for those of us that worked aside you and for you. We hope you have a long, happy, and healthy retirement. So, come out and celebrate Brother Gazouski’s career today from 1400-1600 at Station 8.

PS - If you have not contacted Brother Miceli about Gazoo’s retirement dinner on October 21st, please do so by October 11.

10/05/2026

643 days without a contract to be exact. We could not have worded it any better than Representative Cabello. Thank you for shining an even brighter light on a major issue. The citizens and guests of City of Rockford Government deserve better. It’s time for the City to step up and do what’s right. The removal of Medic 4 leaves only 1 ambulance East of Alpine and the impending removal of Engine 5 will create an even bigger coverage gap on the Eastside.

Rockford residents need to start asking one very simple question:

HOW MUCH MORE IS CITY HALL WILLING TO RISK?

Local 413 says Rockford firefighters have been working without a new contract for roughly 21 MONTHS. Now Medic 4 has been taken out of service, and Engine 5 is scheduled to follow. The union has publicly warned that these closures alter emergency response plans and pose a greater risk to citizens, visitors AND firefighters.

This isn’t about politics anymore.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS AT RISK.

And City Hall’s own story deserves scrutiny.

They tell taxpayers these additional units were always temporary. Yet the Fire Department has acknowledged that the additional resources were valuable, and the department’s memo says they improved response times and resource reliability.

Meanwhile, Local 413 reports Rockford handled 34,166 calls in 2024 compared with 24,557 in 2012, while minimum daily staffing went from 62 in 2012 to 59 in recent years.

MORE CALLS. FEWER FIREFIGHTERS ON MINIMUM STAFFING. UNITS BEING TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE. AND FIREFIGHTERS SAY THEY’VE GONE NEARLY TWO YEARS WITHOUT A NEW CONTRACT.

Enough.

When somebody’s house is burning, when a child can’t breathe, when someone is having a heart attack, nobody gives a damn about City Hall talking points. They care how quickly help gets through the door.

I stand with the men and women of Rockford Firefighters Local 413.

City Hall needs to quit spinning, get serious at the bargaining table, and make PUBLIC SAFETY the priority it is supposed to be.

Because when seconds count, excuses from City Hall won’t save a life.

10/02/2026

Today after more than a combined 60 years of service to the City of Rockford Government, Lieutenant Al Granite and Driver/Engineer Chris Kowalski are retiring. Come on out to Station 3 between 1400-1600 to celebrate the fine careers of these two. Congratulations brothers! We hope you both have long, happy, and healthy retirements. For you have truly earned it.

10/02/2026

As most of you already know, Medic 4 is no longer in service as of 0800 this morning. While we are extremely disheartened for this to happen, we will continue to fight and advocate for it to return. We genuinely hope this will only be a “temporary” shutdown. However, please know that no matter what, the men & women of this local will continue to show up and be there for you!

PS - Stay tuned for more information and updates.

09/30/2026

Today after 29 years of service to the City of Rockford Government, Captain Kevin Mottor is calling it a career. Congratulations Brother! We hope you have a long, happy, and healthy retirement! We’re gonna miss you Brother!

Come on out and celebrate Brother Mottor at Station 8. His cake and coffee is from 1400-1600.

09/14/2026

Sisters & Brothers, for those of you that haven’t heard, the now retired Brother Montavon is having a party on September 23rd at the Venetian. Please RSVP to Brother Brett Beaman no later than Wednesday September 16th.

09/11/2026

Today, we honor those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001. As well as all those who have died since from WTC-related illnesses.

Twenty-five years later, we will .

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! We hope you are enjoying this long weekend, brought to you by the Labor Movement. Stay safe and enjoy it! To our Sisters & Brothers working today, we see you and appreciate everything you do.

09/02/2026

I’m a little late on this post, for which I apologize. We would like to congratulate a couple of brothers on their recent appointments.

Insp. Dustin Collins to EMS Training Coordinator
Dr/Engineer Joe Miceli to Inspector
FF/PM Eric Schweitzer to Dr/Engineer

Congratulations on your new positions brothers! Again, sorry for the delay, but I had to be certain that Brother Collins wasn’t going to switch positions again 🤣