Baltimore Maryland May 31 2014 June 4 2014

Baltimore, Maryland May 31, 2014 – June 4, 2014 Donald R. Austin Executive Fire Commissioner, Retired Detroit Fire Department

The Detroit Experience

Detroit’s Historical Population

Macro View of Detroit Issues • • • Ex-mayor sentenced to 28 years Deferred maintenance of City infrastructure Significant population loss = tax base erosion 80, 000 vacant structures 40, 000 vacant and dangerous dwellings Mayor and Council divided on budget reductions

Macro View of Detroit Issues (2) • • • Council president abandoned office 2 nd Council member quit High turnover in City executive leadership Over 35 Unions in City government Fiscal cliff inevitable General Modus Operandi = Survival

Revenue to Debt 1960~2010

Fire Department Sit/Stat May 2011 • • Operating under CBA, which expired 2001 Single-function firefighters EMS second-class Department members Seniority-based promotion All uniformed members in same union Average commissioner tenure 3. 5 years Mandatory retirement age 60

Administrative Organization Commissioner Deputy Commissioner 2 nd Deputy Commissioner Mayoral Appointment Commissioner Appointment 2 nd Deputy Commissioner

Operational Divisions Firefighting EMS Apparatus Research & Development Fire Marshal Community Relations Communications Medical Training

Firefighting Division Chief of Fire Operations Senior Chief Deputy Chief B 1 B 2 B 4 B 5 Commissioner Appointment B 6 B 7 B 8 B 9

Fire Department Sit/Stat (2) May 2011 • • Complex and inflexible work rules Courts and Arbitrators decision-making Inadequate focus on Safety Fire Stations average 85 years old No apparatus replacement program Apparatus maintenance at Repair Shops Inadequate organizational record keeping

Fire Department Sit/Stat (3) May 2011 • Deferred maintenance on facilities, apparatus, and equipment • Asset management system non-existent • Alcohol use on-duty • Non-existent investigative procedures • Poor accountability • Vendors not paid timely

Fire Department Sit/Stat (4) May 2011 • • • Outdated technology CAD, MDCs, networks No aerial ladder, pump, or hose testing No NIMS Compliance Poor use of ICS on incident ground Browning out of seven fire companies daily Exceeding budgeted overtime by $6 M

Goals and Objectives • Augment administrative staff with identified skills in Labor, Budget, and Purchasing • Data-driven decision-making • NIMS Compliance Project • NFPA testing compliance • Maritime Domain Awareness • Development of Mutual Aid Agreements

Goals and Objectives (2) • Establish a tractor company for demolition • Develop relationships with SE Michigan fire service organizations • Update General Orders and Rules and Regulations • Develop Department library • Dual-function firefighter transition • Merit-based promotions • Transition apparatus repair to GSD • Apparatus and station replacement program

Accomplishments • • FF/CPA Deputy Commissioner 2 nd Deputy Commissioner Labor Attorney 2 nd Deputy Commissioner Budget Personal Services Contracts $78 M awarded in FEMA grants Non-traditional funding sources New Public Safety Headquarters Completion of Burn Documentary

Accomplishments (2) • • • WSU academic relationship Contract with Tri-Data for Efficiency Study 23 donated ambulances rec’d Dec 2013 50 FF EMT-basic certified Dec 2014 Initiated discussion to embrace EMS Initiated discussion for merit-based promotion • Detroit Public Safety Foundation support

New Detroit Ambulance

DFD Today • • Bankruptcy should be finalized by Sep 2014 Hiring 150 firefighter under FEMA funding Fire union has not ratified City’s last offer Moving forward with merit-based promotion • All Division Chiefs are now appointed by Commissioner

Final Thoughts • DFD members, fire and EMS, are dedicated as any firefighters in the US Fire Service • To a large extent we are all products of our environment • Timing is everything in distressed environment • Change agents rarely bask in the sun during their reign