Acting Fire Chief Rick Hoppes began his career with the Salisbury Fire Department as a volunteer in 1985. He began his career service with the Department in 1988. Rick has held many operational and administrative positions during his 28 year career, including Firefighter/EMT, Firefighter/Cardiac Rescue Technician, Lieutenant and Training Officer, Captain, Assistant Fire Chief, and Deputy Fire Chief of Operations. He has spent the last 3 years as Acting Fire Chief of the SFD.
Chief Hoppes currently holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration from Columbia Southern University and an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Business Management from Wor-Wic Community College. He is a graduate of the National Fire Service Staff and Command curriculum and he has continuously strived to increase his education and training in the fire service throughout his career.
Currently holding certifications as a Maryland and National Firefighter II, Fire Officer IV, Fire Service Instructor III, Emergency Medical Technician-Basic, Hazardous Materials Technician and Incident Commander, Chief Hoppes is an adjunct instructor for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency where he is credentialed to teach all of the National Incident Management (NIMS) courses.
Chief Hoppes has received numerous awards throughout his career, including multiple Unit Citations, Department Commendations and Meritorious Service Awards. He has been married for twenty-nine years and has three children. He and his family are very active in their church and in his spare time, Rick enjoys woodworking and golf.
39 comments:
Good, Hoppes has been acting chief for much too long.
Isn't he a RACIST?
Again, even a blindman could see this coming!
And the circus begins!
The job requirements seem hyper inflated.Most likely the same requirements as previous chiefs,but with far more attention than ever before.Taxpayers need to have it spelled out to them precisely why this has taken so long.
I will not forget the smirk on Hoppes' face the night that Ireton advanced the interim status without an end date. His wife was there with him. That makes me think that he lacks integrity and knew exactly what was going on. Then there was the night that all of the equipment that we taxpayers paid for (including uniformed personnel) showing up at a council meeting to bully the council. Hoppes left the room before they spoke, but was patting them on the shoulders in support as he made his exit. This is not a leader. This will be the first test of how much a puppet Jake Day is or isn't.
Good now they are getting some things done without Debbie
What a joke. That resume is nothing but fluff. Where in the heck is Columbia Southern University?
I wonder how hoppes will pay back the Mayor wink wink.
Wink Wink, he will have to kiss behind for ever more.
Yes he is a racist.
That degree is from a non accredited school. It's not worth the paper its written on. The school doesn't even have a campus
Finally. Lets put this one to rest.
What is wrong with being racist?People have the right to be whatever they want.
April 22 5:13
You are wrong and either ignorant or stupid. Search CSU and you'll find it does in fact have a campus and it's in Alabama. Thousands of people are getting their degrees or furthering their degrees on-line these days. This school is designed for firefighters, police and EMS personnel who work shift work and for whom "normal" daytime class hours would be difficult. If you think for one minute that it's easy, go ahead and enroll in a single class and find out just how easy it is...NOT! Educate yourself prior to printing trash.
Columbia Southern University is an online correspondence school and was only founded in 1993! What a joke of a degree. Good luck in trying to transfer those credits. It's offices are in Alabama but it does not have a campus!
You are correct. CSU is only nationally accredited making it nothing but a degree mill. The City actually paid for him to get this certification. A recognized university or college has to be regionally accredited to be recognized amoung reputable schools. So yes his "credits" have no value and would not be recognized by Salisbury U. Thus, it is not worth the paper it is written on and yes he is not really qualified for the job as required and written by City HR.
Wow, I hope that the budget includes lots of tissues. He crys so much due to the stress of the job and the decisions that need to be made that they will need a healthy stockpile going forward. Nice guy who can't lead or make a decision. Just what you want in a Fire Chief.
April 22, 2013 at 7:43 PM
I did my research and Columbia Southern University is nothing more than a diploma mill and it is not Regionally Accredited which means the college credits won't transfer and he is not eligible to get a Masters Degree at a real college. The online exams are not proctored so anyone can take the exams for you. You never sit in the class and have interaction with other students or a professor. If this so call college was designed for firefighters then why didn't Mr. Hoppes get his degree at the University of Maryland University College. UMUC is a part of the University of Maryland System and they have a distance learning program called Major in Fire Service Administration. Why didn't he take this program from an in state Regionally accredited school? I will answer that for you. Because he is fat and lazy and it took him over 10 years to figure the easy way out. This is not a department head that is worthy of this position. Shame on Jim Ireton for this fraudulent department head nomination.
Hewre's their new letterhead -
Salisbury Fire Dept.
(Blacks not wanted)
He's on the alumni board down at Matchbook U. What a joke this is -- on Salisbury residents!
Diploma Mill Police SM
Columbia Southern University (AL) Distance Learning Accreditation Report
Diploma Mill Police
Columbia Southern University (AL)
College State: Alabama
College Website URL: http://www.columbiasouthern.edu
Distance Learning Accreditation Status
This institution is NOT REGIONALLY ACCREDITED, but it is NATIONALLY ACCREDITED BY:•Distance Education & Training Council (DETC)
CAUTION: What does attending a non-regionally accredited college mean?
Some career paths and career licensing programs may REQUIRE a regionally accredited college degree. In terms of transfer credits and degree recognition the general rule is that colleges with the same type of accreditation accept each other's courses and degrees as the equivalent of their own. If you attend a non-regionally accredited college, regionally accredited colleges may or may not accept your degree as the equivalent of their own in determining your degree standing and transfer credit status. At this time the majority of regionally accredited online colleges do not accept non-regionally accredited degrees as the equivalent of their own. This fact may impact on the future acceptance of your degree or credential in certain circumstances and for certain careers.
SEE Seattle Times - Feb 24, 2006 Article -- Students Sues College Over Accreditation -- and Wins - Latesha Gonzalez, 23, of Washington State, works about 60 hours a week and every month writes a check for her student loans -- but she's paying for an education she says was a waste of time. She dropped out of Crown College in Tacoma after learning her credits there won't be accepted at traditional universities. She says admissions agents at the for-profit, private school, which is accredited by the ACCSCT, lied to her and told her it would be "no problem" to transfer her credits later to Gonzaga University (a regionally accredited college), where she wanted to study criminal psychology. The case highlights the problems students face in distinguishing the importance of accreditation -- and understanding why not all accreditors are equal when it comes to degree recognition regardless of whether the degree is earned on campus or online...
If Jim Ireton possessed a degree from a non regionally accredited college he would never have been hired by the Wicomico County Public School System and they would not pay for his classes. Jim Ireton knows better than this so he is an accessory to this fraudulent degree by allow the taxpayers funding it.
Without commenting on any other aspects... out of curiosity I looked up Columbia Southern University. So Mr. Hoppes has a degree in Business Administration. So take a look at the faculty for that program. Teachers from Capella University, University of Phoenix, Northcentral University, Argosy University, Walden University, and many more all of which are other ONLINE schools, some of questionable validity. So a degree from a school of questionable validity taught by teachers of questionable validity. Hmm.
Is Columbia Southern University A Scam?
Written by Jill Brown
If you are someone who has considered earning a college degree online, whether due to work or family commitments, you may have seen an advertisement for Columbia Southern University at some point and taken a look at what the school has to offer. And since it’s not a well known school, you may have wondered whether Columbia Southern University is a scam. To answer this question it’s necessary to take a brief look at the school, its degree programs, and its accreditation.
Columbia Southern University was established in 1993 and is based in Orange Beach, Alabama. The school only offers online degree programs. There is no physical campus where classes are taught in person. The school offers online degree programs in fire science, criminal justice, business administration, organizational leadership, information technology, human resource management, and occupational safety and health. Degree programs are available at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and graduate level.
The Litmus Test For A Legitimate University
The best way to tell if an online college or university is a scam is by evaluating its accreditation. The gold standard of collegiate accreditation in the United States is known as regional accreditation. There are six regional accrediting agencies that are tasked with evaluating colleges and universities in their geographic areas to make sure they meet minimum academic standards.
A college or university only needs to be accredited by one of the six agencies. Before we go any further it is necessary to point out that Columbia Southern University is not accredited by any of the six regional accrediting agencies.
Please move this to the top and keep it with local Salisbury News. It should be noted that Richard A. Hoppes is not qualified for the fire chiefs position and never has been. Ireton promised the firefighters he would get rid of Hoppes and Gordy. Obviously he reneged on his promise. This is typical of Ireton's campaign promises and lies.
"He has spent the last 3 years as Acting Fire Chief of the SFD."
From the Daily Times:
"Hoppes served as de facto fire chief until Jeff Simpson, a career firefighter from Virginia, became the city's 21st fire chief in October 2010. Hoppes graciously expressed his gratitude at the opportunity to serve and stepped aside for a little more than a year.
When Simpson resigned in January 2012 after little more than a year in the post,"
So this proves that Ireton and Hoppes lied in this fluff piece resume they orchestrated. Hoppes hasn't been the Acting Fire Chief for the last 3 years. Jeff Simpson was hired as a fire chief during that time for over a year.
Anonymous said...
He's on the alumni board down at Matchbook U. What a joke this is -- on Salisbury residents!
April 22, 2013 at 10:32 PM
That is so funny I cracked up laughing and everyone in the room cracked up after they read it.
If anyone wants to know if Mr. Hoppes is a racist please ask the EEOC and other agencies that investigated him and the Salisbury Fire Department. By the way they are still under investigation, but Mr. Mayor doesn't care since it will be tax monies paying for his defense.
The N word and sexual innuendo's are used on a daily basis, just asked some of the ride alongs what they have witnessed.
Anonymous said...
April 22 5:13
You are wrong and either ignorant or stupid. Search CSU and you'll find it does in fact have a campus and it's in Alabama.... Educate yourself prior to printing trash.
April 22, 2013 at 7:43 PM
Mr. Anon 7:43 PM I did my research and found out you are wrong and lied about the campus. It is not a brick and mortar school. It is a for profit online school for students who can't make it in real universities. Please see the article posted by 10:57 PM.
"Columbia Southern University was established in 1993 and is based in Orange Beach, Alabama. The school only offers online degree programs. There is no physical campus where classes are taught in person."
So now who is the stupid and ignorant one printing trash. To make a long story short it is obviously YOU!!
The is no EMS Division in the Salisbury Fire Department so how can Jim Ireton say that Hoppes is public servant committed to EMS for our citizens. After he forced out Lt. Cropper he did away with the EMS lieutenants position. This guy has never ridden in the back of an ambulance and perform quality patient care. He hates EMS and only keeps it in the fire department for the revenue the ambulance billing produces. Bad choice people, bad choice.
There's a reason that people work hard to obtain a REAL college degree. So they can have a good education and advance at work. These types of fakes degrees hurt all of the hard work other did to obtain a real college degree. I find it amazing that the City of Salisbury would even pay for someone to obtain such a fake degree. The only degree Hoppes holds is an Associate''s degree from Wor-Wic. Wor-Wic is a good school and does issue real degrees but the position of a paid fire chief in any city would require a real degree and my guess it would be even higher than a BA. Education is important in a professional job / position.
I remember Hoppes being the fattest and laziest employee that ever worked at the Salisbury Fire Department. I also know for a fact that he never tested for any of the promotional exams. He was always a but kisser to the fire chief.
It's so obvious that this has everything to do with Ireton and absolutely nothing to do with Hoppes.
April 23, 2013 at 12:22 AM
You are correct that his degree is a fake degree and the so called college is a for profit school. There are no requirements for being accepted into this fake college except a check to pay for their profits. With colleges close by such as Salisbury University, UMES and Wilmington College why would anyone resort to an online fake degree? The city is negligent for paying tuition to these lazy people. Who took the exams for him or do they even require exams?
He certainly doesn't look like he is in physical shape to pick up a ladder, much less climb one!
With all the problems and baggage he brings with him, I would think the Council would not select him. This man is a law suit waiting to happen. I don't feel my tax dollars should be paying for this kind of employee.
In 50 states, you can't tell me there isn't someone else better qualified for this job. The mayor hasn't done his job because he wants another puppet to make him feel good.
What is this council coming to??? Make the gay feel good about himself? or do the job you are suppose to do for the citizens of this city who pay your wages. Get busy and do the right thing!
Look how fat and overweight that guy is. If I remember correctly the $14 Million dollar fire house has a brand new gym and spa in it. Is he to lazy to walk down the hall to use the gym to get in shape? Mayor Ireton says he has been Acting Fire Chief for 3 years and he has been to busy to use their gym? I don't think so. Like others have mentioned he is overweight and lazy. Most people who are overweight and lazy are just buying their time. Not only is he a lawsuit waiting to happen he is a heart attack waiting to happen.
Columbia southern university is a diploma mill! No regional accreditation means no standards for academic rigor. No wonder all the students praise how great and easy it is!
Anonymous said...
April 22 5:13
You are wrong and either ignorant or stupid. Search CSU and you'll find it does in fact have a campus and it's in Alabama. Thousands of people are getting their degrees or furthering their degrees on-line these days. This school is designed for firefighters, police and EMS personnel who work shift work and for whom "normal" daytime class hours would be difficult. If you think for one minute that it's easy, go ahead and enroll in a single class and find out just how easy it is...NOT! Educate yourself prior to printing trash.
April 22, 2013 at 7:43 PM
HaHaHa!! This is either Fatso Hoppes of Fatso Tull. I've noticed that John Tull has put on about 100lbs since he became Deputy Butt Kisser along with Chief Butt Kisser Hoppes.
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