Hail to the chief: Cody Tocher to lead Anaconda Fire Dept.
Cody Tocher, middle, is the new chief of the Anaconda Fire Department after the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission approved his hiring to the position Tuesday night. He is pictured here flanked by fellow firefighters Billy Jo Jovanovich, left, Loy Bink, Jason McElroy and Travis Anderson. Leader photo: James S. Rosien
Alicia Tocher, Cody Tocher's wife, pins his chiefs badge on him after his hiring at the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission meeting Tuesday night.
The new chief is congratulated by retired chief and uncle Ron "RJ" Tocher.
He also gets the congratulations from the oldest surviving chief of the Anaconda Fire Department, Bill Converse. Leader photos: James S. Rosien.
The Anaconda Fire Department has a new chief, and he's someone well known to the department and the Anaconda community at large.
Cody Tocher, a fire captain and 15-year member of the department, was formally hired as chief at Tuesday night's special meeting of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission.
Tocher will replace Erick Brittain, who recently resigned from the department – a department that has been the subject of many heated Commission meetings over the past few months as it has been faced with a staffing shortage and a fire hall in need of modernization.
But Tuesday night's meeting was just the opposite, with the gallery at the ADLC courthouse courtroom nearly standing-room only as family, friends and fellow firefighters – past and present – were present to speak on his behalf and congratulate him on his new post.
"I have had the pleasure of working with Cody for 15 years. ... We became the best of friends," said fellow Anaconda Fire Department Captain Jason McElroy, who got a bit choked up as he turned to Tocher to say, "Words can't describe how proud I am of you. He'll do a tremendous job. We'll support him and make our fire department successful."
"As the oldest surviving chief of the Anaconda Fire Department," said Bill Converse, retired Anaconda fire chief, before turning to Tocher and leading an ovation, then turned back to the Commission and said: "You have made an excellent choice for chief."
"I love each and every one of them. They've walked the walk," Converse said of the firefighters. "I am extremely proud of them."
Tocher's uncle, Ron "RJ" Tocher, who previously served as Anaconda's fire chief, told the Commission they had made "an excellent choice for chief of the fire department."
"To see him grow up and follow his dreams, it made me proud," he said. "He's absolutely the best choice. Whatever he needs at all, I'm here for him."
ADLC Chief Executive Bill Everett said "this is a big move for our community and our fire department."
"We had interviews last week, they were all great quality people. Cody is well liked and regarded by our current and former firefighters. Everyone speaks very highly of him," Everett said. "Congratulations, Cody. I look forward to working with you. The whole community is behind you."
The Commission agreed, voting unanimously in favor of his hiring.
"Thank you for this opportunity, thank you to my family and all my friends, especially the wonderful people of the fire department. This wouldn't be possible without them," Cody Tocher told the Commission. "Together we'll promote the highest quality of care that the city of Anaconda and county of Deer Lodge deserves."
The Anaconda Leader will have more with the new chief in an upcoming edition.
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