Traverse City Fire Chief to Retire as Ambulance Transition Nears Completion

Traverse City will mark the retirement of Fire Chief Jim Tuller on April 24, 2026, closing a long chapter in local public safety leadership as the department prepares for a major operational shift. Tuller’s 36 years with the city and 46 years in firefighting encompass three decades of service with the Traverse City Fire Department (TCFD) and 18 years as chief, a period in which the department expanded its scope and professional capacity.

Tuller joined TCFD in 1990 and was appointed chief in 2008. Under his leadership the department has pursued a sustained program of professional development and training that city leaders say helped build one of the state’s most highly trained fire service teams. Those investments in training and regional cooperation have shaped how the department responds to emergencies across Grand Traverse County and in neighboring jurisdictions.

One of the most consequential initiatives overseen by Tuller has been the city’s transition to become the primary ambulance provider. That phased rollout is ongoing and is slated for full implementation in July 2026. The timetable means the department’s operational assumption of primary ambulance duties will be completed shortly after Tuller’s retirement, leaving incoming leadership to manage final implementation and long-term integration of ambulance services with fire response.

For residents, the timing carries practical implications. The change is intended to alter how emergency medical services are provided, dispatched and staffed within the city. It also places emphasis on continuity in training, staffing and interagency coordination during the transition. The department’s focus on professional development under Tuller will shape that continuity, according to city assessments that credited his regional leadership and commitment to building a highly trained workforce.

Tuller’s departure represents a broader leadership transition for city public safety. The experience and institutional knowledge he amassed over nearly five decades in firefighting will be succeeded by new management at a moment when the department is accepting expanded responsibilities. City officials have highlighted his regional role and the strengthened capabilities of TCFD as durable elements of his legacy.

As Traverse City moves toward July’s full ambulance implementation, residents can expect department leadership to manage final operational details and maintain emergency response standards established during Tuller’s tenure. The retirement underscores the interplay between local leadership decisions and frontline public safety operations, with direct consequences for how emergency medical and fire services are delivered across the community.