Dutton Promoted to Deputy Chief of Moberly Fire Department

The following press release was sent from the Moberly Fire Department.

Fire Chief Don Ryan announced the promotion of Ross Dutton to Deputy Chief of the Moberly Fire Department.

The change took effect on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Dutton brings a total of 22 years of fire service experience, including 14 years with the Moberly department.

“Having lived in this community my entire life, one thing never changes: the citizens we serve are some of the best, and their overwhelming support for this department means everything,” Dutton said.

“Being a firefighter in Moberly means we are called upon to respond to every type of emergency, no matter how extreme.

It’s a career that is incredibly rewarding. Having the ability to make a difference in someone’s life, especially when they are facing their worst day, is an honor I carry with pride.”

Dutton has a deep lineage in the fire service going back to his grandfather, Robert Dutton, who dedicated 30 years to the Moberly Fire Department before retiring as Fire Chief.

In addition, his father, Ross Dutton spent 30 years at the Macon Fire Department, also retiring as Fire Chief.

Dutton’s journey began in Macon where he completed all basic and core firefighter development courses through the Missouri Division of Fire Safety.

He continued his education with an associate’s degree and multiple certifications including Fire Officer II, Instructor II, Inspector I, and Arson and Explosives Fire Investigation.

“I’m looking forward to working with Deputy Chief Dutton in his new capacity,” said Chief Ryan.

“He is dedicated to keeping our residents safe and our firefighters well-prepared for any challenge.

Ross has a long history with Moberly that demonstrates leadership, dedication to firefighter safety, and a deep commitment to serving our community.

He brings expertise in emergency operations, training, and public safety that is invaluable as we continue to grow our department.”

As Deputy Fire Chief, Dutton’s primary responsibilities include familiarization with the Fire Chief’s duties, allowing him to effectively lead the department during the Chief’s absence, and focusing on enhancing department operations and overseeing personnel management.

Dutton sees a key part of his role as creating stronger team collaboration and improving communication across all three shifts, particularly in relation to training and managing the department’s workload throughout the year.

“This position will give me the opportunity to collaborate with officers across all shifts to develop strategies that ensure the department continues to meet its evolving needs efficiently.

My primary focus will be addressing one of the most pressing challenges in the Fire Service: Firefighter Retention,” Dutton explained.

“Over the past 5 years we’ve seen significant turnover, losing nearly our entire department once over.

Our greatest asset is our people, and right now we have a young, talented, and dedicated group of firefighters with incredible potential.

My goal is to develop and implement a strategy that ensures our current firefighters feel valued, supported, and motivated to continue their careers with the Moberly Fire Department.”