New Rockford fire chief shares the moment that ‘changed everything’ and her goals for the future

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — As a new recruit to the Rockford Fire Department in 2009, Rebecca Tyo volunteered to stand at Perryville Road and East State Street to help raise money during the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s fill the boat fundraiser.

She and other new recruits were there collecting donations for hours when a car pulled up, and a young lady reached out to give Tyo a handful of cash. The woman had visible scars. The kind that come from a severe burn.

“When she handed me her cash she said, ‘You guys saved my life’,” Tyo said Tuesday during a ceremony to be officially sworn in as Rockford’s next fire chief.

“That moment changed everything for me,” she said. “It was then that I realized I was part of something far bigger than I had ever imagined. It was then that I truly understood the privilege of calling myself a Rockford firefighter.”

“From that day forward I made a promise to dedicate myself fully to give everything I had to honor the legacy of the Rockford Fire Department.”

Tyo was sworn in Tuesday on the same Veterans Memorial Hall stage that she stood on as a recruit class graduate in 2009. She is the 12th fire chief in the Rockford Fire Department’s 144-year history.

“She rose to the top through hard work, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to her team and her community,” said Rudy Valdez, chairman of the Fire & Police Commission, which hires the chief. “Chief Tyo understands that leadership is not just about authority. It’s about trust, teamwork and communication. It’s about creating a culture where every member feels valued, supported and inspired to give their very best.”

Valdez said Tyo was selected through a rigorous process that included assessments by active and retired fire chiefs. There were 14 total candidates reviewed as part of a national search led by the consulting firm IO Solutions.

Tyo, 44, rose through the ranks over a 16-year career as a firefighter/paramedic, lieutenant, fire training coordinator and captain. She was unanimously selected for the job of chief by the Fire & Police Commission on Oct. 14. She succeeds Michelle Pankow, who retired from the department in July to become Illinois state fire marshal.

“I have every confidence that Chief Tyo will continue to move our department forward, strengthening our emergency response, deepening our community engagement and supporting the brave men and women who serve our city every day,” Mayor Tom McNamara said during the ceremony.

McNamara also noted Tyo’s humility, saying she didn’t want her illustrious college basketball career noted in her bio. Tyo, a 1999 Christian Life High School graduate, went on to Division I Western Illinois University. She ended her college career as the sixth-leading all-time scorer and 10th all-time leading rebounder in Western women’s history, earning a spot in the school’s Hall of Fame.

“She is also a 2013 Western Illinois Hall of Famer, which she doesn’t want anyone to know,” McNamara said to applause from firefighters, city officials, family and other supporters at Veterans Memorial Hall.

Future goals

Tyo also outlined some of her goals for the department as she steps into the role of chief.

She said the department will continue to study service delivery to ensure prompt, effective and efficient response. She wants to grow Rockford Fire’s engagement efforts, increase visibility, public education and recruitment and retention efforts. She also wants to expand prevention efforts for both fires and emergency medical calls by utilizing mobile integrated health units and priority dispatch.

“We will celebrate diversity, provide equity, promote inclusion and strive to be an organization that reflects the community we serve,” she said.

The department will also look for new ways to support firefighters while they serve and in retirement, expand its community partnerships and analyze data to strategically plan for the future. It will also continue to prioritize mental health resources to ensure firefighters needs are being met, she said.

Tyo said she inherited the Rockford Fire Department in a good position, but she will work to avoid the so-called trap of success.

“We cannot fall into the trap of believing that this is the best that can be done,” she said. “We must continue to imagine a future where things are better, because that is how we create it.”

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas