Command Staff

At an early age, John Morel knew he wanted to be a firefighter and for over 30 years, John has served in this profession. In 1991 John joined the Wayne Township Fire Department and in February of 2003, he obtained his goal of becoming a career firefighter at Decatur Township Fire Department (DTFD). Over his tenure at DTFD, John has made an impact through his dedication and servant leadership. His desire to be a strong leader continued and he was promoted to merit Lieutenant in May of 2005. John has served the Decatur Township Fire Department in the rank of Lieutenant, Captain, Battalion Chief, Division Chief of Training, and Deputy Chief of Administration. John currently resides in Decatur Township and has been proudly married for over 30 years with two adult children and one grandchild.

Brandon has over 20 years’ experience in the fire service and was hired by Decatur Township Fire Department (DTFD) in 2017. Previously, Brandon served at the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) in the State Fire Marshal’s Office and held the positions of Fire Training Manager, Fire Training Section Chief, Division Director of Training, member of FEMA Region V Training Committee, and liaison to the Operations Section Chief. While at IDHS, Brandon sat on the Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards and Education, Indiana EMS Commission, and Vice Chair of the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board.

In 2022, Brandon was promoted to merit lieutenant and over the last eight years at DTFD, he has had a vital role in department training and operation programs. In addition, he is an active member of the training division, pension board, mentorship program, and the policy review committee. Brandon is happily married to his wife, Samantha, and has four children.

Scott began his career in the fire service in 2005 with the Decatur Township Fire Department (DTFD). In the early years of his career, Scott learned the profession by riding the backstep of Engine 74. However, he was motivated to gain knowledge and pursue his goal of being promoted within the ranks of DTFD.

In early 2018, Scott was promoted to Engineer and in October of 2018 was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He served as the ladder company officer from 2019-2021 and in April of 2021, Scott was appointed to the position of Battalion Chief. In September of 2022, Scott earned a promotion to the merit rank of Captain and in December of 2022, Scott was appointed to serve as the Deputy Chief of Operations.

Scott has continually strived to obtain additional knowledge and improve his skill set throughout his career. He maintains his Fire Officer I/II/III, Instructor II/III, Hazardous Materials Technician, Vehicle Rescue Technician, Safety Officer, Health and Safety Officer, and Driver Operator for Ladder/Engine/Tanker. Scott has been heavily involved in the Training Division since 2017 and has instructed several state-level classes within the department and throughout the state. In addition, Scott was an advocate for DTFD firefighters by serving as the District Union President for Local 416 from 2012- 2018.

Lorne Hudson started his career with the Decatur Township Fire Department as a volunteer firefighter/EMT in 1980. He has earned several specialized certifications from the State of Indiana and completed numerous firefighter trainings. He has served in various roles and earned many awards throughout his 38-year career with the department including two Chief’s Awards. Due to multiple back surgeries, Lorne was forced to retire as a firefighter in 2018. Lorne was then rehired as a civilian employee with the department and is now serving the Decatur Community as the Fire Marshall and an arson investigator. He continues to build strong relationships within the community by conducting inspections and making himself available to answer questions from businesses, schools, and other individuals in Decatur Township.

January 2005, Division Chief Longerich began his career with the Decatur Township Fire Department (DTFD). He has always found value you in educating and training consistently to fine-tune his skills. Division Chief Longerich was promoted to Lieutenant in 2019, and he has served as the officer for Engine 73 and Ladder 71. In 2022, he was excited to be given the opportunity to be promoted into the newly created position of Division Chief of Training and Safety.

Division Chief Longerich has obtained a significant number of certifications that include Officer III, Instructor III, and EMT Primary Instructor. In addition, he holds Technician Level certifications in Ropes, Confined Space, Swift Water, Vehicle & Machinery Rescue, and Haz-Mat. He has served as a department shift training officer (STO) for approximately 10 years and has a passion for training. His ongoing goal for the training division is to improve the knowledge and skill-base of the firefighters of the DTFD. Division Chief Longerich is currently the Chairperson of the safety committee and responds on incidents as the department’s incident safety officer (ISO). Division Chief Longerich is also a member of Indiana Task Force 1 (INTF-1) and has experienced multiple FEMA deployments across the country. When he is not serving the residents of Decatur Township, he is also a member of the IndyCar Safety Team and travels with the series during race season. Division Chief Longerich carries on the fire service legacy as a second-generation firefighter. His father has served over 40 years as a Battalion Chief with Indianapolis Fire Department. Justin is married to his wife Stephanie and together they have two children. Their family enjoys spending as much time together as possible and they love the outdoors.

Division Chief James Halleck began his career with Decatur Township Fire Department (DTFD) in 2005 however, prior to that he served two years as a volunteer firefighter with the Castleton Fire Department. He found a true passion for EMS and in 2008 received his paramedic license after a fourteen-month training program. Division Chief Halleck continued to further his education by earning an associate degree in Fire Science from Ivy Tech in 2019 and in 2021 was promoted to Lieutenant within DTFD. Division Chief Halleck has been involved with training his entire career and has served as a shift training officer (STO) for several years with a significant focus on EMS. In 2022, Division Chief of EMS was newly created, and Halleck is the first person to be named for this position. In addition, Division Chief Halleck is an EMT instructor and a course developer for the fire science program at Ivy Tech. His other responsibilities and certifications include being the coordinator for DTFD’s Handtevy Pediatric System, Primary Instructor, and Instructor II/III. He is passionate about patient care and is excited to take DTFD EMS to the next level by implementing the newest training and cutting-edge technology.

Kelly started as a volunteer firefighter with Decatur Township in 1998 and in one short year she was hired as a career firefighter/EMT in 1999. Enjoying EMS, she pursued her paramedic license and received it in 2002 and within one year she was promoted to Lieutenant in 2003. Throughout her career, Kelly has continued to expand her knowledge and training by obtaining several certifications in the fire and EMS disciplines. In addition, Kelly has attended the National Fire Academy and Ivy Tech Community College, which speaks to her commitment to learning. She takes an active role in our department by serving as a committee member on the Just Cause Foundation and as the lead coordinator for the DTFD Youth Fire Setter program. Her motivation and determination led her to be the first appointed female Battalion Chief for Decatur Township Fire Department. Public safety thrives within Kelly’s family, as she is married to an Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD) Captain and has three sons, one who is currently serving in the United States Marine Corp (USMC).

Vacant Position

Dan Marshall found his love for the fire service in his early 20’s, now a 24-year veteran he leads C-shift as the Battalion Chief. He began his career as part-time firefighter/EMT at Greenwood Fire Department and was hired full-time with Decatur Township Fire Department (DTFD) in January of 2002. Since then, Dan has worked his way through the ranks, being promoted to Lieutenant in 2005 and Captain in 2022. Training has always been a foundational element and a passion for him. Dan has been an integral part of DTFD’s recruit classes since 2004, held the role of station training officer (STO), and continues to be an active participant in the training division. In addition, he has served on several committees for new apparatus and the building of Station 73.

Dan found a way to bring his love for the outdoors and community together. He was one of the founding members of the Friends of Ellenberger Park which was sparked by the project that earned him the Indiana Master Naturalist certification from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Still today, he enjoys his time outdoors, hiking on his days off, and spending time with his family.

Doug Pearson oversees the maintenance and logistics for the DTFD. Doug is a disabled army combat veteran and recently retired from law enforcement where he severed for 30-years. During his law enforcement career, he spent 12-years in the Arson/Explosives Investigations Division. In addition, he has been a licensed paramedic since 2016. Doug has been a resident of Decatur Township since 1996 and his roots run deep with his son playing in the Decatur Central State football game and his daughter who previously organized the “Hero Dog Jog” fundraiser for the IMPD K-9 unit.