On June 1, 2013, I will end my service as Director of Fire and Rescue for Frederick County, Maryland. While my departure comes much sooner than I anticipated at the time of my employment, my personal situation has changed in ways that I had not anticipated. After 41 years in the career fire service, now is the right time to call it a career.
While my tenure has been relatively short, the Division has accomplished a great deal. Some of the more notable accomplishments were:
· Added one additional Paramedic response unit to system at no additional cost
· Initiated "in-house" paramedic training program to reduce overall cost
· Obtained federal grant for volunteer recruitment – 500 plus new volunteers recruited to date
· Obtained federal grant to fund pager replacement needed due to federally mandated narrow banding of radio spectrum
· Obtained federal grant to fund a computerized Incident Command Training simulation system
· Implemented an ambulance "re-chassis program as an alternative to ambulance replacement to reduce costs
· Relocated logistics warehouse to a new facility - on time and under budget
· Implemented annual physical fitness testing of incumbent firefighters
· Established Fire Investigation Task Force in conjunction with County Sheriff and City Police
· Implemented cross training of agency administrative staff to increase job sharing and internal administrative back-up
· Implemented "Critical Supervisory Skills" training for all current and future uniformed officers
· Implemented mandatory EEO training for ALL DFRS employees with companion program for volunteer corporations
· Implemented community outreach program to improve minority recruitment of career and volunteer personnel
· Partnered with Chamber of Commerce to develop a Public Safety Awards program
· Completed a comprehensive 15 year Fire & Rescue Service Plan and delivered same to BOCC
· Developed Delegation of Authority Ordinance package in cooperation with the volunteer fire and rescue association and saw it through to BOCC adoption
· Implemented Fire Technician Position established by Union contract prior to my employment
· Implemented "customer service survey" program to obtain citizen feedback on service delivery
· Developed "community update" newsletter to inform the public of fire and rescue activities and events
· Revamped part-time firefighter/paramedic program
The men and women of the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services are some of the finest fire–rescue professionals I have ever been associated with, and it has been a privilege to work alongside of them.
—Chief Thomas W. Owens
