| By Big Radio News Staff |

Janesville’s Police and Fire Commission has named six finalists out of a national search for the Janesville Fire Department’s next fire chief.

Two are members of Janesville Fire Department.

The finalists include:

— Beloit Deputy Fire Chief and South Beloit Fire Chief Jason Griffin. He has 30 years experience, including six years as a deputy chief and two years as a chief.

— Lake County Fire and Rescue Delafield Assistant Fire Chief Matthew Haerter. He’s served as deputy chief at Delafield two years. He also served as chief of operations for the Western Lakes Fire Department, Oconomowoc, and at the city of Kenosha Fire Department.

— Former Glenside Fire Protection District Gledale Heights, Illinois Deputy Fire Chief John Kolarik. He served at Glendale Heights from 2021 to 2022. He was also a member of the Schaumburg fire department for 23 years. He’s a former member of the U.S. Navy, which he served on from 1987 to 1991.

— Janesville Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief of Operations John McManus III. He’s served on the Janesville Fire Department since 1996. He’s led the department’s EMS and Support Services division and has served as taskforce leader for the Wisconsin Task Force I since for two years.

— Janesville Fire Department Battalion Chief Ryan Murphy, He’s served as Battalion Chief title since 2018 and has been on the Janesville Fire Department since 1999, serving roles including Captain, Lieutenant, and Firefighter/Paramedic/Motor Pump Operator.

— District Chief South Metro Rescue Authority, Parker, Colorado District Chief Scott Sarver. He’s served as District Chief in Parker since 1998, and has been a firefighter since 1996. He’s been a safety officer for Jefferson County Colorado and FEMA on Colorado Task Force I, and has been coordinator at Snake River, Colorado Fire Protection District.

This Thursday and Friday, the city’s police and fire commission will give each of the six finalists an assessment, interviews, and a community tour. The interviews include a public meet-and-greet from 6 to 7 p.m. this Thursday at Janesville City Hall council chambers at 18 N. Jackson St.

City Manager Kevin Lahner said earlier this week the police and fire commission had been reviewing about 20 initial candidates for chief. The city made the list of six finalists public Friday evening after the commission held a closed-session review of candidates on Thursday afternoon.

The fire chief position comes open as Chief Jim Ponkauskas is set to retire in May.