SLS 19RS-3242 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 253
BY SENATORS ERDEY AND W HITE
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Bill Porche upon his retirement as chief of the Central
Fire Department.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Bill Porche upon his retirement as chief of the Central Fire Department.
3 WHEREAS, the citizens and the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana have learned
4 of the retirement of Central Fire Chief Bill Porche; and
5 WHEREAS, Bill Porche joined the Central Fire Department as a volunteer in 1979,
6 became a full-time firefighter in 1988, and has been the fire chief since 1996; and
7 WHEREAS, for over twenty-three years Bill Porche served with great passion as the
8 fire chief for the Central Fire Department and he announced his retirement in December of
9 2018 after thirty-nine years of dedicated service; and
10 WHEREAS, Bill Porche is a valued citizen of Louisiana and was a constant thread
11 of stability and a highly respected leader who helped save lives, build, and renovate fire
12 stations and facilities during his time as fire chief; and
13 WHEREAS, for thirty-nine years in public service as a firefighter, Bill Porche
14 faithfully served the citizens of Central, and even after his retirement, the Central Fire
15 Department will continue to benefit from this extraordinary man's legacy and leadership; and
16 WHEREAS, Chief Porche and the other valorous firefighters of the Central Fire
17 Department risked their own personal safety and sacrificed time away from their families
18 in order to provide invaluable aid to those who require their vital services, not only during
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 253
SLS 19RS-3242 ORIGINAL
1 fires, but also during horrific disasters; and
2 WHEREAS, during the flood of 2016 and its initial aftermath, Fire Chief Porche and
3 the valiant firefighters of the Central Fire Department mobilized in a highly effective manner
4 to meet the needs of the Central residents and the citizens of the state of Louisiana; and
5 WHEREAS, the devastation of this flood created an unprecedented need for
6 assistance in Central and in Louisiana and that assistance was heroically met by Fire Chief
7 Porche and the Central Fire Department; and
8 WHEREAS, the former Mayor of Central, Jr. Shelton, who was responsible for
9 emergency preparedness, credits Chief Porche with being his mentor and guide; and
10 WHEREAS, many of these public servants lost everything, their homes and all of
11 their belongings, and some were separated from their families, and they still performed
12 professionally with dedication and strength; and
13 WHEREAS, operating tirelessly under intense levels of stress and fatigue, these
14 intrepid individuals were on the scene day after day, working with their hands and hearts to
15 provide services to those who suffered so profoundly; and
16 WHEREAS, the skills, expertise, and resources of dedicated leaders like
17 Chief Porche have been an invaluable part of the rescue, recovery, and rebuilding efforts in
18 Central, and all over Louisiana; and
19 WHEREAS, because of his numerous years of public service as the Fire Chief of
20 Central, Bill Porche has certainly earned eternal respect and admiration for his unwavering
21 endeavor to preserve life and property, he certainly merits a special measure of
22 commendation for his remarkable selflessness, bravery, and courage.
23 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
24 does hereby commend Central Fire Chief Bill Porche for his outstanding years of public
25 service and does hereby extend enduring appreciation for his courage, bravery, and steadfast
26 commitment to the citizens of Central and to the state of Louisiana and wish him much
27 success on his retirement and with all his future endeavors.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
29 Bill Porche.
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 253
SLS 19RS-3242 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
SR 253 Original 2019 Regular Session Erdey
Commends Bill Porche upon his retirement as chief of the Central Fire Department.
Page 3 of 3