Utica Mayor Mike Galime reacts to the death of Chief Russell Brooks | News

UTICA, NY — Russell Brooks has died at the age of 75 after 43 years of service to the Utica Fire Department.

Brooks retired in 2018 after more than a decade as chief.

He is remembered as a dedicated and community-minded public servant.

One Utica resident who met Brooks when he was a “little kid” was Mayor Mike Galime.

“So I remember him from a very young age just being a part of the community and helping every single person around him,” Galime said.

Galime thought about who Brooks was as fire chief.

“Just pure innovation. Pure thought. Just pure fire. You know that was his personality,” Galime said. That’s what he brought to the table. He made sure that every person had the chance to be a part of this organization and that Utica had the best fire department we could ever have. »

Galime’s predecessor at City Hall, Fmr. Mayor Rob Palmieri named the Central Fire Station on Bleecker Street in Brooks' honor in December.

Galime said the city plans to honor Brooks' legacy in the days and weeks to come.