When Tommy Smith leaves Colorado Springs to become fire chief in Redmond, Wash., at least he’ll be around one familiar face at work.

The police chief in Redmond is Ron Gibson, a former deputy chief of the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Smith, who has been interim fire chief since April, said he and Gibson weren’t close friends but knew each other.

“Ron has a great reputation in Colorado Springs,” he said, adding that he contacted Gibson when he learned about the job in Washington.

Smith said moving to Redmond, which is near Seattle, will be a little easier knowing that Gibson is there.

Gibson, who became police chief in Redmond in June 2010, told the Redmond Reporter when he was hired that moving to Redmond was bittersweet.

“It will be tough to leave, but Redmond gives me a chance to start a new chapter in my life, in my career. I really like the area,” he told the newspaper.

According to the story, Gibson was the precinct commander of Colorado Springs’ Sand Creek Division from 2002 to 2005. Gibson also told the newspaper that he helped form the department’s Homeless Outreach Team.

Gibson retired from the Colorado Springs Police Department after a 30-year career. He joined the department as a patrol officer in September 1979. He was promoted to sergeant in 1990, lieutenant in 1996 and commander in 2001. In 2007, he became deputy chief of patrol operations.

Deputy Chief of the Colorado Springs Fire Department Tommy Smith, right, was appointed as the interim Fire Chief by Mayor Steve Bach Monday, April 29, 2013 after Rich Brown announced he was stepping down from the position. (Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette file)