The Village of Mount Pleasant selected Dustin Ellis to lead the South Shore Fire Department after more than 15 years of service in the organization, most recently as its interim chief.
As SSFD’s new chief, Ellis will oversee the department of 69 people that provides fire protection to the villages of Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant. He will focus on incrementally growing the department to keep up with the demand for services. The department expects to receive over 6,400 calls for service in 2025, which would continue a trend of annual increases.
“The fire department must keep up with how fast the community is growing,” Ellis said.
Ellis joined SSFD in 2010 as a Firefighter/Paramedic after previously serving in the Village of Pleasant Prairie Fire & Rescue Department. Within SSFD, he has held leadership roles including Lieutenant and Battalion Chief. His past accomplishments include overseeing the creation of SSFD’s Technical Rescue Team that is capable of specialized operations in circumstances including building collapses.
Ellis stepped in as interim chief in August 2025. He was selected as the next chief by the Mount Pleasant Police and Fire Commission after an extensive and competitive hiring process.
Several other members of the department were also recently appointed to new leadership roles. Battalion Chief Mike Cook was promoted to become Bureau Chief of Community Risk Reduction. Matthew Sura is becoming Bureau Chief of Training and Emergency Medical Services, advancing from his previous position as Lieutenant. Firefighter/Paramedic Jacob Noll is being promoted to Lieutenant.
“It’s rewarding to help these leaders grow within the department and have an even bigger impact on the neighborhoods we protect,” Ellis said. “The teammates within this department are extremely talented and dedicated, and I am going to rely on their skills to serve the residents and visitors of Mount Pleasant and Sturtevant.”