Meet the Command Staff

Administrative Assistant Denise Bateman joined the Jefferson City Fire Department in October of 2020 after retiring from the State of Missouri.  As the Department’s only support person, she serves as the primary point of contact for citizen inquiries, coordinates payroll for 75 personnel, processes invoices for payment, orders and maintains an inventory of standard uniform items, and provides general clerical support for Fire Department staff.

Chaplain Powell has served as a chaplain for the Jefferson City Fire Department since 2017. He is the senior pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Jefferson City, having served there since 2010. Chaplain Powell was born in Virginia, but was raised in California, Missouri. He attended Concordia University, Nebraska where he received his degree in secondary education and then attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis where he received his Masters of Divinity. Chaplain Powell lives in Jefferson City with his wife and three children. 

As chaplain, his primary responsibility is the care of members of the department. He visits fire stations, attends fire department events, and participates in training opportunities. He regularly responds to structure fire calls to provide support as needed. While on scene, Chaplain Powell will visit with affected individuals, gather information, and coordinate with the incident commander and the American Red Cross. Chaplain Powell will often follow up with members of the department after difficult calls. 

Chaplain Powell is a member of the Federation of Fire Chaplains, the Missouri Fire Chaplain Corps, and has participated in training with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. 

Division Chief Jerry Blomberg has served the Jefferson City Fire Department since March of 1997. He began assisting the training division in 2000.  Until his promotion to his current position in 2016, he served as Captain of Engine 1, a SWAT Medic and as a Shift Training Officer. He has also served as an instructor for MUFRTI and a private training entity, Emergency Operational Solutions.  

As the Chief of Training, he coordinates all training for JCFD's 3 shifts, which encompasses fire suppression, EMS, HAZMAT and rescue and he serves as the leader of the department's Special Operations Response Team (SORT).

Division Chief Jason Turner began his career in the fire service as a junior firefighter with the Bismarck Fire Department, working under his father- Fire Chief Rodger Turner. After leaving Bismarck FD, he served with the Farmington Fire Department as a firefighter, Lieutenant, Training Officer and Asst. Chief. 

In July of 1997 Jefferson City Fire Department hired Turner to oversee the Prevention and Inspection Division, which included his appointment as the Public Education Officer.  Chief Turner has been an adjunct instructor for the University of Missouri Fire Rescue Training for over 20 years.  He has also served as a Board Member for the Firefighters Association of Missouri and the Missouri Fire Marshal’s Association.  Chief Turner currently serves as a board member for the Missouri Fire Chief Association, a member of the NFPA, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and the Missouri Valley Fire Chiefs.

Chief Turner continues to work as the Division Chief of Prevention/Inspections along with public information, public relation events, purchasing/vendor relations and manages the department’s fleet.

Chief Turner and his wife live in Jefferson City and enjoy spending time at their place at The Lake of the Ozarks with his family in his free time.

Jay Niemeyer started with the Jefferson City Fire Department in 2001 and was promoted to Assistant Chief in 2015.  Chief Niemeyer began his career in the fire service in 1990 as a volunteer with Boone County Fire Protection District and retired from BCFD after 27 years of service. Prior to starting with JCFD Niemeyer worked for 7 years as a paramedic in Columbia, MO and spent 4 years as a firefighter with the Lee’s Summit Fire Department. 

Chief Niemeyer holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri Columbia, is a Nationally Registered Paramedic, and is certified in Missouri as Fire Officer 4, Fire Instructor 2, Safety Officer, Investigator and Inspector.  

Chief Niemeyer serves as a Safety Officer for Missouri Task Force 1, the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team and is also qualified as a Planning Team Manager.  He has been deployed to several federal deployments including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ike, Hurricane Florence and state disasters including the Joplin Tornado and Elks Lodge Collapse in Clinton, MO. Niemeyer is also an Adjunct Instructor with MUFRTI.

Chief Niemeyer resides in Jefferson City and is active in the breakfast Rotary Club, Sons of the American Revolution and the Mizzou Alumni Association.