ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — St. Petersburg Fire Chief James Large will retire from his position on March 1, the city announced Thursday.
In a sit-down interview with ABC Action News Reporter Rochelle Alleyne, Chief Large said it's a 50-year career that almost didn't happen.
"It's a funny story. So I wanted to be a police officer," said Large, "[The officer] said 'We only hire 21-year-olds. You have to be 21.' He said, 'But the fire department just lowered their age.'"
Thursday, Chief Large clarified that his retirement isn't connected to an August 2023 investigation that ultimately cleared him of anonymous allegations of discrimination.
He was placed on administrative leave in early August 2023 but was later reinstated by August 24.
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"It hurt. It hurt. Because that's not the person I am. Not the person I was attempted to be painted to be. Whatever, that's past I was cleared, that's past. It didn't change my goal of retiring this year," he said.
Instead, as he reflects, Chief Large said he wants his legacy to be one of hiring and promoting "good people" and pushing for a new type of annual employee physical that has proven to be life-saving.
"We have people that are still here today that might not have been if we didn't have life scan. So, for me personally, that's the one thing that really sticks out in my time as chief," he said.
When it comes to the department and its next leaders, Chief Large said they'll have to think creatively in order to respond to an ever-growing number of non-fire calls.
"We're not necessarily a fire department anymore. We're a 'Whatever the community needs department. All hazards department,'" he said.
And as he looks ahead for himself, the chief said his future will largely be wrapped up in family.
"We are going to take some trips, that's something. My wife's Italian, and we've never been to Italy. So we want to go to Italy," he said.
The City of St. Petersburg said Deputy Chief Robert Bassett will serve as the interim Fire Chief while a national search for a replacement is conducted.
