Aaron Lipski received a new four-year term as the city’s fire chief April 16.
Members of the Fire and Police Commission, the hiring body for the fire chief, voted unanimously to give Lipski a new term. It comes with a significant salary raise to $245,793.60, up from $192,000. The vote was 8-0 with Ramon Evans not in attendance.
“This is my life’s calling,” Lipski said at the meeting.
Lipski’s reappointment was not contentious and largely expected, with the chief having large community and elected official support.
But it drew attention in March, when the Common Council moved to allow the Fire and Police Commission to negotiate the salary of the fire chief. That came after the Fire and Police Commission gave a hefty raise to Police Chief Jeffrey Norman to $243,000, a figure that raised eyebrows.
Lipski’s new salary, which will be among the highest in the city, brings him to a level consistent with cities, commissioners said.
“I think it’s time for Milwaukee learns to take care of its own,” said LaNelle Ramey, a commissioner. “We can no longer look at dollars and say, ‘that’s too much.'”
Lipski has overseen the Milwaukee Fire Department since he was appointed acting chief in 2020 and appointed to the permanent position the following year. In his role, he oversees the city’s fire response, EMT response and other public health and safety-related programs, like an effective opioid response program.
For years and especially recently – after fires in various residential buildings, including a devastating apartment fire in 2025 that killed five – Lipski has been outspoken on the need to mandate sprinklers.
“It feels really good. Let’s just put it simply,” Lipski told the Journal Sentinel following his re-appointment.
At the April 16 Fire and Police Commission meeting, a handful of community members spoke in support of him, as did Chris Anderson, the chief operating officer of the company Bell Ambulance, which assists with medical calls in the city.
Lipski supported the company the night a reckless driver struck and killed EMT Meng Kue in January, Lipski said. Anderson said he didn’t know what to do and Lipski calmly assisted.
“He took care of everything that needed to be done,” Anderson said.
Building up the department’s morale during his first five years was his proudest accomplishment, while his department’s mistakes count among his regrets, Lipski said.
While he received unanimous and enthusiastic support, the fire department and the organizations it has worked with have faced scrutiny during his tenure. For instance, Lipski and private EMT company Curtis Ambulance’s officials faced intense public pressure after it was revealed Curtis’ staff did not exit an ambulance to search for a woman who died of hypothermia in January 2024.
David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski receives new term
Reporting by David Clarey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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