Fire & Rescue Department

Chaplain Program

Clearwater Fire & Rescue has initiated a Chaplain Program to provide counseling support to our Firefighters and also provide on-scene support to victims and their families. Father Jacob Monteleone and Reverend Mike Kimbrough have signed on to serve the employees and families of Clearwater Fire & Rescue. They will also participate in department events such as: celebrations, ceremonies, memorials, etc.

Father Jacob Monteleone

Father Jacob Monteleone was born and raised in New Orleans, La., the oldest of three children. Father Monteleone studied for two years in Covington, La. before switching to Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. After two years of graduate work, he took a leave of absence and went to work on an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. He returned to the seminary in 1970 and on completion of his studies he began pastoral ministry in the Cajun Country and Cajun Coventry, South Louisiana. He received his Master of Divinity degree in Theology from Notre Dame in 1971 and was ordained a priest in 1975.

In 1990, he came to the Tampa Bay Area and has served in several parishes beginning with St. Ignatious in Tarpon Springs where he met District Chief Sam Willi and his wife Carol. Before coming to Clearwater, he was assigned to St. Joseph Church, Zephyrhills, FL. While in Zephyrhills, he was a volunteer Chaplain for 5 ½ years at the Zephyrhills Fire Department.

He currently is assigned to Light of Christ Catholic Church in Clearwater, located in the vicinity of Station #48.

We are very happy and pleased to have Father Jacob Monteleone with us.

Reverend Mike Kimbrough

Reverend Kimbrough was born and raised in Ft. Pierce, Fl. He came to Clearwater in 1984. He has 2 brothers and 2 sisters -- himself considered as the knee baby (next to the baby). Reverend Kimbrough participated in an in-house study under the Church of God by Faith, Clearwater, for 4 years. He has been a Reverend for 10 years, including pastorship for 7 years at By Faith Restoration Ministries Inc.

Reverend Kimbrough was one of our own Firefighters with the City of Clearwater from 1984-1995 on B Shift. He’s been married to his lovely wife Deborah for 12 years. They have 4 girls and 3 grandchildren.

Reverend Kimbrough pastors at the By Faith Restoration Ministries on 310 West Bay Drive, Largo.

We are very excited to have Reverend Mike Kimbrough back with us as part of the CFR Team.