Karpinski is commission’s pick for fire chief

Matthew Karpinski was appointed chief of the Ozaukee Central Fire Department Thursday, Oct. 22, by the Grafton Police and Fire Commission.

Karpinski has been with the department since 2015 and has served as interim chief since March, when former Chief Bill Rice retired.

Karpinski’s appointment was unanimously approved by the commission following a closed session, Commission Chairman Paul Moroder said.

“The Commission has full confidence in Chief Karpinski’s ability to lead the Ozaukee Central Fire Department as it continues to grow into a major department serving multiple municipalities,” he said in a statement Friday.

Moroder said the only step remaining is for the Fire Board to approve Karpinski’s contract. The board’s next regular meeting is Nov. 18.

Moroder noted that Karpinski “has led the department capably during a period of transition.”

The commission sought candidates for the position from within the department, and Karpinski was the only person to apply, but officials said at the time that the panel could still seek outside candidates for the job. 

A paramedic with more than 20 years in the fire service, Karpinski began his career with the Germantown Fire Department while he was studying criminal justice.

“I was quickly drawn to the fire service,” Karpinski said in an interview in March, noting a supervisor told him he was going to attend fire school.

“He knew the right path and knew my interest in the department,” Karpinski added. 

Karpinski said he was initially drawn to the fire service by a desire to help people, adding he enjoys being involved in the community and participating in things.

“Recognizing the value in that, I decided to keep going down that path,” he said. 

He rose to become the captain of emergency medical services before joining the Grafton Fire Department as division chief in 2015.

He was promoted to assistant fire chief in 2020 and played a central role in the merger of the Grafton and Saukville fire departments that created the Ozaukee Central Fire Department, including consolidating capital assets to eliminate $4.3 million in duplicate spending, according to the release. 

This year, Karpinski launched the first pre-hospital blood transfusion program in Ozaukee County.