The Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit Board of Trustees has elected Detroit Fire Department Chief Leo Spitzig as its board chair for fiscal year 2027.
Spitzig, who serves as a senior fire chief of fire operations, was elected to the one-year term as board chair position via a unanimous vote of the board of trustees.
Spitzig is a 35-year member of the department and has been on the PFRS board as a trustee for several years. He was promoted to senior chief in 2023, from his prior role as battalion chief.
McGinnis, commander of the Detroit Police Department’s Professional Standards Bureau, has served as a trustee for three years. He was assigned to his current DPD position from his role as commander of major crimes. He has served as a police officer for 25 years in Detroit.
McGinnis earned a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University in 2023, and an MS in criminal justice, also from Wayne State and a bachelor’s in executive management from Cleary University. He has earned certifications and executive training at Wharton Executive Education and Harvard Kennedy School.
Spitzig and McGinnis have been elected to one-year terms effective with the start of the PFRS Board Fiscal year 2027 that began July 1. Spitzig had served as vice chair and replaces outgoing Chairman Ron Thomas, who also serves as vice president of the Detroit Police Officers Association.
“I am honored to serve the members and beneficiaries in this leadership role as Chairman as we continue to refine our operations and investments to make the Police and Fire Retirement System efficient and a leader among public pension systems nationally” says Spitzig “The board of trustees is working very diligently to maximize returns for the pension system. We are also improving processes and engaging technologies at PFRS to better serve first responder retirees and their families who have given so much to the great city of Detroit.”
Spitzig says he and the trustees are committed to the fiduciary operation of the fund and maximizing returns for the long term.
“I am fully committed to this role to help ensure continued fiscal responsibility of the fund and to work with our staff and investment advisors to generate prudent growth rates to sustain the pension system for all beneficiaries,” McGinnis says.
