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Sarasota battalion chief dies in motorcycle accident

Bill Kocur, 63, served with the Sarasota County Fire Department for 25 years. He planned to retire in March 2018.
Bill Kocur, 63, served with the Sarasota County Fire Department for 25 years. He planned to retire in March 2018. Sarasota County Emergency Services

The battalion chief of the Sarasota County Fire Department was killed in a motorcycle accident in Georgia over the weekend.

Bill Kocur, 63, served 25 years with the Sarasota County Fire Department and planned to retire in March 2018, according to Sarasota County Emergency Services.

Kocur previously served in Manatee County’s fire department and was a lifelong Sarasota resident. He was the first baby born on New Year’s Day at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in 1954.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing.

The Kocur family is planning a celebration of life, but has yet to determine when it will be held.

“Rest easy Chief,” Sarasota County Emergency Services said in a Facebook post honoring Kocur’s life and service. “We’ve got it from here.”

This story will be updated.

Ryan Callihan: 941-745-7095, @RCCallihan

This story was originally published October 16, 2017 at 1:33 PM with the headline "Sarasota battalion chief dies in motorcycle accident."

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