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The long process to find new leadership for the Clearwater Fire Department is coming to a head now with the selection of five finalists for the position of fire chief.
Despite the long-term and thorny problems that have plagued the department, the city received 85 applications from people who want to be chief and apparently understand that Clearwater would be a nice place to land. From those 85, City Manager Bill Horne chose five finalists who have long experience in the field.
That is probably the strongest point about this group of finalists: Each of them has more than 25 years of experience and is now either a chief of a medium-sized department or a deputy or division chief of a large department. That kind of experience and wisdom will be essential for the next chief of Clearwater's department.
It also is encouraging that Horne is personally involved in the selection process. Dealing with the Fire Department probably has been the greatest challenge of Horne's tenure as manager. He knows what he wants and needs in a fire chief, and though he will encourage and accept input from others in city government and in the Fire Department, he will make the final decision and be accountable for it.
The finalists for chief are:
Wade DeHate, 47, a division chief with the Hillsborough County Fire Department who has 27 years of experience.
Jamie Geer, 50, fire chief in Franklin, Tenn., who has 28 years of experience.
Jeffrey C. McCoy, 54, fire chief in Lafayette, Ind. He has 30 years of experience.
Charles Middleton, 52, deputy chief of the Orange County (Fla.) Fire Department, with 28 years of experience.
Richard Williams, 57, fire chief in Gainesville, with 28 years of experience.
It is notable that all of the finalists have a firefighting background. Clearwater's current chief, Rowland Herald, was a paramedic who had little experience or training in fire suppression when he was named chief. After the tragic Dolphin Cove condominium fire in 2002, several reviews of the department's performance found firefighters lacked training, failed to follow firefighting procedures and department guidelines, and suffered from insufficient supervision and leadership.
Since those revelations, Horne has made it clear that he understands the need for Clearwater's next chief to have firefighting experience. All of the finalists do, having risen through the ranks to achieve their leadership positions.
However, it is also important for Clearwater's next chief to possess management skills and be a strong and confident leader. Herald has not been able to exert enough influence in the department to control it, and the relationship between city government and the local fire union has been toxic for two years now. Horne is looking for a chief who can rebuild that tattered relationship without conceding to every demand of the union.
That is a tall order. Horne has a lot of work ahead of him.