Meet the Chief

Chief Whitaker

Message from the Chief

Thank you for taking time to learn more about the North Shore Fire Department on our website. Our Department provides fire and life safety services to seven communities that make up the northern suburbs of Milwaukee County. We are also active participants in the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) providing assistance to our neighboring communities when called upon. As you will see from our website, we provide a range of programs to the communities we serve that include emergency response and fire/life safety education programs. The consolidation of seven fire departments has allowed us to provide excellent service to the communities while controlling costs through reduction of duplication and increased coordination in the services provided.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about our organization or the services we provide. If you are in the area, feel free to stop and visit one of our neighborhood fire/rescue stations.

Thank you again for taking time to visit our website. It provides excellent information on our organization.

Robert C. Whitaker
Fire Chief

Chief Whitaker Shaking HandsBiography

Chief Robert C. Whitaker was appointed Fire Chief of the North Shore Fire Department on May 6, 2010. Chief Whitaker succeeded David Berousek who retired as the first Fire Chief of the consolidated North Shore Fire Department.

Chief Whitaker was appointed to the Fox Point Fire Department as a career firefighter in 1994. The Fox Point Fire Department consolidated with six other fire departments in the North Shore suburbs of Milwaukee to form the North Shore Fire Department on January 1, 1995. Chief Whitaker has held the positions of Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, Fire Lieutenant/Paramedic and Firefighter/Paramedic while with the Department.

Education & Training

He has a Bachelors Degree in Fire Service Management from Southern Illinois University and a Masters Degree in Fire and Emergency Management Administration from Oklahoma State University.

He serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Milwaukee County Fire Chiefs Association, serves on the Wisconsin Fire Chiefs Education Association's Board and is Credentialed Chief Fire Officer through the Center for Public Safety Excellence.