Chief’s Drivers
I would like to comment on Stephen Marsar’s article “Chief’s Drivers: Their Value, Roles, and Responsibilities” (Fire Engineering, August 2022). First, the title of the article uses the term “Chief’s Driver.” Titles should accurately reflect the content, meaning, and objectives of the article to draw in readers. Marsar constantly uses the term “driver” in the narrative although he uses the term “aide” in the sidebar. He does mention other titles that can be used—some very descriptive of the job, others not so.
The noun “driver” has a very narrow meaning in the eyes and minds of most people—that is, to just drive a vehicle. This is especially true of politicians and city managers dealing with budgets. They are always looking to cut back funding for items that are not politically necessary or their pet projects. Marsar’s narrative does a good job of explaining all the duties of a good chief’s aide. Using a more inclusive title for the position, such as “aide,” will go a long way in justifying it in the eyes of the powers that be, the media, the public, and the members of the department.
A very important and, to me, a most important item is the professional relationship between the chief and his aide. There are many different relationships between members of a fire department: between firefighters themselves; between firefighters and company officers; and between firefighters, company officers, and chiefs. Firefighters, company officers, and chief officers have very little choice of with whom they work and have to have relationships, but there is one relationship that chief officers usually have a choice of: their aide. This relationship is very different, important, and personal. Usually, a chief can pick his aide from the members of the department. It is not usually covered by civil service rules, promotion exams, lists, or union contracts.
In addition to all the “roles and responsibilites” enumerated in the article, the chief’s aide is the chief’s eyes and ears in the firehouse to let the chief know what is happening. It is not as if the aide is a spy, because it is a two-way street. It allows the aide to let the firefighters and company officers know what is on the chief’s mind without the chief having to say it directly. Many times, when firefighters and company officers have something on their minds that they want to discuss with the chief, they will run it through the aide first to gauge the chief’s responsiveness to the thoughts or maybe the chief’s mood that day.
As a chief officer for 24 years, nine years as a battalion chief and 15 years as a deputy chief, I had many special relationships with my aides. I always felt that the aide’s number-one responsibility, though it was never mentioned or written, was to protect the chief. He was the canary in the coal mine, letting the chief know of problems developing. Firefighters and company officers are more comfortable discussing problems with the aide—who is usually a firefighter—than the chief. The chief and aide must be compatible, have the same outlook about the job, and respect each other.
Ted Goldfarb
Deputy Chief (Ret.)
Fire Department of New York
Membership
Bobby Halton’s Editor’s Opinion “Membership” (August 2022) was a wonderful column and so familiar to me. My dad was one of nine, including two priests, two nuns, and two firefighters. I’m the oldest of seven including two firefighters and four teachers. No one told us what we had to do; we just did it. Life was simpler and better in so many ways.
Jimmy Joyce
Fire Commissioner (Ret.)
Chicago (IL) Fire Department
The final paragraph of Bobby Halton’s “Membership” says it all. Thanks!
Herb Jewell
Retired/Still Engaged
Poulsbo, WA
