For the first time in its history, the Milwaukee Fire Department has an African-American female deputy chief.
Sharon Purifoy is a 17-year veteran of the department, and was promoted to the rank on December 13, 2020.
Purifoy will lead the department’s Emergency Medical Services Division. She became a registered paramedic in 2012.
Other roles Purifoy had done with the department include Fire Cadet instructor, director of the Survive Alive House, and the Director of Recruitment. She also has had active participation on the department’s Strategic Planning Committee.
The department notes Purifoy was also part of history back on November 8, 2018 when she was one of the members of the first all-female engine company.