Robbie Stephens: ‘I’m not like the other chief’

New Lewes Fire Chief Robbie Stephens says he has a message for the community: “I’m not like the other chief.”

Stephens sat down with the Cape Gazette the day before he and fire department President Wally Evans called for former Chief Bill Buckaloo to resign from his membership.

But, Stephens defended the process that would allow Buckaloo to remain, if he chooses.

“Everything was followed by the bylaws, the president [Wally Evans] did his job [and] the ruling is final,” Stephens said. “You’re always going to have two different sides of the membership; some are going to like it or some aren’t going to like it. It was handled with due process, just like everybody has their day in court.”

Stephens has now launched a public relations effort to introduce himself to the community and let them know his department is here to serve.

Just before the interview, Stephens met with CAMP Rehoboth Executive Director Kim Leisey. Stephens briefly attended a Speak Out Against Hate meeting in Lewes Sept. 5, at which he introduced himself to Congresswoman Sarah McBride. He is expected to meet with the NAACP in the near future.

“I just want to get out in the community and let them know we’re all volunteers,” he said. “Talking to people, having that communication and figuring out ways we can come to their events, show people who we are and where their money is going to.”

The Lewes Fire Department is a nonprofit organization and is not directly connected to the City of Lewes. It receives money from the city, county and state, and through private contributions.

Last fall, Bernie Edmondson, the department’s chief marketing officer and then-Chief Greg Bennett, launched a fundraising strategy aimed at corporate donors. After some initial success, Edmondson and Stephens said, that effort has stalled.

Edmondson was successful in securing a $22,000 grant for four thermal-imaging cameras and two gas meters.

Stephens and Evans will soon make an annual budget pitch to the Lewes Finance Committee. The city typically gives the department $75,000 per year. 

An accident involving two fire trucks at Route 1 and Wescoats Road in June became an unexpected expense for the department. Buckaloo’s son, Christopher Colpo, was driving the ladder truck, Stephens said. Colpo was fully trained and certified to drive the truck, he said.

“A car cut off the other engine in front of him. The engine had to slam on the brakes. Unfortunately, the ladder truck is 72,000 pounds and braking between the two, you just can’t do that,” Stephens said.

Colpo was suspended from driving fire department vehicles, but has since returned to full duty. 

The 23-year-old ladder truck had to be taken out of service after it sustained a cracked windshield. The department recently bought a used replacement truck for about $10,000.

Stephens said a new $1.4 million ladder truck, which was ordered three years ago, is expected to arrive in January and enter service in March. He said the replacement truck will then be sold.

On a positive note, Stephens said the department was recently able to recruit 17 new volunteers.

Stephens has held almost every position in the Lewes Fire Department. His father, Craig, is a past chief and president, and his grandfather and great-grandfather also served in the department.

Stephens, who is married to Coast TV news anchor Madeleine Overturf, balances his time as a Lewes volunteer with his job as a full-time firefighter in Wilmington.

“I’m up there two days a week, then down here, every single day, every hour whenever the fire alarm goes off in Lewes,” he said. “I love it. I love serving the community.”