Press Release – New 911 Dispatch Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lakeview, Oregon, October 24, 2023 – The Town of Lakeview is thrilled to welcome Dean Schulze as the new 911 Dispatch Executive Director. With a rich background in public safety and communications spanning 37 years, Schulze brings invaluable expertise to our community.

Ronny Vo has been serving as the interim 911 Director and the Town of Lakeview wishes to thank him for his willingness to assume this role as well as the daily duties of a full-time 911 dispatcher.

Dean Schulze’s impressive work history and professional experience make him an invaluable addition to our leadership team. He has dedicated his career to public safety. His extensive experience, 37 years in emergency management, positions him as a capable and visionary leader, ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead for our town. His passion for improving emergency response systems, enhancing communication protocols, and ensuring the safety and well-being of our community is truly inspiring.

Dean Schulze’s career highlights:

• Began as a Volunteer Firefighter in Lakeview at age 16 in March 1986.
  Studied Fire Science and EMT-2/EMT-3 at Chemeketa Community College.
• Worked 7 seasons with the USDA Forest Service in Lakeview, developing a passion for Wildland Firefighting.
• Volunteered with Polk Co Fire Dist#1 (PCFD#1), advancing through various ranks, including Dispatcher, Captain, and weekend Duty Chief, during 14 years of service.
• Worked in the construction industry for five years with CK Properties.
• While he was in the process of testing for a permanent full-time position in the Fire Service, he held a job at Bio-Tek Medical, specializing in durable medical equipment and medical transport.
• Joined the Oregon City Fire Dept. in 1996, transitioning to Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVFR) in 1999, where he held roles such as Fire Fighter (FF), Apparatus Operator (A/O), Fire Prevention Specialist, Interim Lieutenant, and Acting in Capacity (AIC) Captain. Dean worked with OC Fire and Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVFR) for 27.5 years and officially retired in March 2021. He has worked at almost every one of the almost 30 stations at TVFR. Afterward, he returned on a contract basis, and he finally retired from Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue on September 1, 2023.
• Dedicated over 12 years as a Field Training Officer (FTEP).
• Served on the Wildland Committee for 27 years, responding to wildfires in Oregon and California.
• Contributed to the Safety Committee for 16 years, served in the Honor Guard and as Capt. of the Guard for 27 years, and participated in the Water Rescue Team for the last 7+ years of his career.
• Elected to the Board of Directors for Amity Fire District, including a term as President of the Board.
• Appointed to the Yamhill County Fair and Rodeo Board of Directors, where he chaired the Board for five years. 

Last year, Dean’s wife, Jen Schulze, took on a position in Lakeview as the Director of Student Services and Community Health Liaison for the Lake County School District. Lakeview holds a special place in Dean’s heart as his hometown, and several of his family members still reside here. His deep roots in the community made this a meaningful homecoming.

Dean Schulze commented, “I never believed when I left this town in 1988 that I may be returning to my hometown to give back. I have been blessed with many of the wonderful experiences that I gathered during my career. Bringing those skills home is an honor and a privilege.”

Dean assumed his role as the 911 Dispatch Executive Director on October 14, 2023. He will oversee all dispatch operations, including the 911 center, and support Lakeview’s public safety initiatives.

We are confident that Dean Schulze will be a pivotal leader during this period of transition, enhancing our emergency response and community safety efforts. Let’s extend a warm welcome to Dean as he begins his new journey with the Town of Lakeview and returns to his cherished hometown.

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Town of Lakeview (“Town”) Town is home to approximately 2,400 persons and is in Lake County, Oregon. The Town is managed by a Town Manager. The Town Manager oversees the public works department, fire department, 911 dispatch, and town hall administration. The public works department oversees the Town’s municipal utilities (water and wastewater) and transportation system (streets). The public works crew operates and maintains the public facilities and utilities that are provided by the Town.

Town Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month. More information can be found on the Town’s website townoflakeview.org or on our Facebook page “Town of Lakeview”.