Tutko Leaving as Effingham Fire Chief

Bob Tutko has announced plans to retire as Effingham Fire Chief.

Tutko Tuesday said he plans to leave as of July 2. 

The 61-year-old Tutko said he has been in the fire service for 41 years. He said he would have likely stayed another year or so, maybe until the end of the current City Council's term, but family considerations have led him to decide to relocate to northern Illinois, where he spent the bulk of his career.

Tutko said his wife Patty's retirement from teaching and their daughter's desire to start a family, plus missing his other grandchildren's hockey games, all contributed to the decision to depart.

Tutko has been working in Effingham since 2018 when he succeeded Joe Holomy, working as interim chief through the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association. The Council later decided Tutko was the man for the job and hired him as chief.