South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue honors promotions and heroic efforts
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Fire Chief Jim Drennan is pleased to announce two Fire Department Command Staff promotions. Battalion Chief Karl Koeppen has been selected for the position of Deputy Chief of Operations and Captain Tom Kerley has been selected as our newest Battalion Chief who will oversee the Prevention Bureau.
Chief Koeppen has been with the department since 2002 and with the City since 1999 holding several leadership positions over the last 18 years. Chief Kerley came to SLTFR in 2022 with extensive experience in the fire service in Douglas County as well as in Jackson County, Oregon.
Chief Drennan said “Both chief officers have shown tremendous leadership ability and will continue to help guide the department. Our focus is to build and maintain strong relationships with our partner agencies in the basin and I am confident they will excel in their new roles.”
Chief Koeppen and Captain Kerley were recognized in a badge pinning ceremony on October 14, 2025. The Fire Department also acknowledged the promotions of Tom Jones to Fire Captain and Blake Sturdivan to Fire Engineer in the badge pinning ceremony.
As part of the special ceremony, Chief Drennan was also very proud to bestow medals for the heroic efforts of the Marine 17 boat crew on June 21. On that day ten lives were saved on Lake Tahoe, near Tahoe Keys Marina, during an unprecedented storm when a boat capsized and passengers needed rescue. The three recipients of the medal of valor were Captain Trent Renner, Engineer Lance Hubbard, and Firefighter Paramedic Stuart Bogle. In addition, two Chiefs’ meritorious awards were given to Firefighter Paramedic Paul Bias and Firefighter Paramedic Brent Tajkowski for separately pulling citizens in distress out of the water from the shore.

At the ceremony, Police Chief Roberson also awarded medals of valor to Marine Officer Shannon Laney and Marine Officer Michele Gigante for their courageous Marine 1 boat response and water rescues that day. Meritorious Service Award were given to Public Safety Dispatchers Nicole Harrington and Melissa Dube for their work as the police and fire dispatchers during the rescues.
The Fire Department and Police Department are very proud of the heroic efforts of these First Responders.

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