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Seattle Fire Chief Shows Contempt for Fire Fighters, Community
September 1, 2000 Fire Fighter Leroy Sisley, a member of the Seattle Fire Department, has gone beyond the "Call of Duty" on more than one occasion. But the Chief of the Seattle Fire Department, Fire Chief James Sewell, doesn't see it that way. Seattle Fire Department Memorandum Number 168-99, issued in September of 1999, awarded Fire Fighter Sisley a Certificate of Meritorious Service for his actions during an early-morning house-fire in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, in which Mr. Sisley performed a 'save' on a fellow fire fighter who had fallen through a front-porch into the fire burning below. This certificate has since been rescinded by Fire Chief James Sewell, allegedly because the act put Sisley in harm's way. Seattle Fire Department Memorandum Number 169-00, also issued in September of 1999, awarded Fire Fighter Sisley another Certificate of Meritorious Service, which reads as follows: While traveling through Shoreline, Fire Fighter Sisley came upon a severely beaten victim of an assault and initiated emergency medical care, including CPR. Upon the arrival of Shoreline Fire Department units, he continued assisting in the treatment of the patient. Afterward, Sisley assisted the Shoreline Fire Department in setting up the ICS system, with scene security, and obtaining information pertinent to the event. Fire Fighter Sisley's selfless decision to stop and help, and the professionalism he displayed in treating this woman, helped provide her with the best care available. Fire Fighter Sisley's assistance to the Shoreline Fire Department in a multiple casualty situation was exemplary. In the words of Shoreline Fire Department Chief J.B. Smith, Sisley "provided valuable assistance to the Incident Commander. He deserves our heartfelt thanks for his dedication to service." Fire Fighter Sisley clearly demonstrated dedication to helping others and represented the Seattle Fire Department in an admirable manner. Upon recommendation of the Seattle Fire Department Awards Committee, Fire Fighter Sisley received a Certificate of Meritorious Service and 240 merits." Although this certificate has not been rescinded in total, Fire Fighter Sisley has been denied the 240 merits and the appropriate benefits due him by action of Fire Chief James Sewell. Shoreline Fire Department Chief J.B. Smith stated that, (Sisley) "provided valuable assistance to the Incident Commander. He deserves our heartfelt thanks for his dedication to service." A long-standing conflict between Seattle fire fighters and Chief Sewell over perceived leadership inadequacies has distanced this fire chief from his men and from the community he serves. On occasion, this lack of cooperative spirit has led to calls for his removal. In an attempt to support the men and women of the Seattle Fire Department, members of the community joined together and in February of 1998 the SUMMIT Foundation launched a survey to discover the state of affairs between the fire fighters and administration. A damning report on the state of morale within the Seattle Fire Department followed. Fire fighters from around the state are currently expressing their dissatisfaction with this action and Fire Fighter Sisley has been forced to pursue a formal grievance with his union in an effort to obtain his rightful recognition. Speaking with Fire Fighter Sisley by telephone, the substance of these allegations has been confirmed by this writer. Attempts to reach Chief Sewell for comment have gone unanswered. UPDATE: 8/25/2000 According to reliable sources, Fire Chief Sewell has issued a memorandum addressing the allegations of this report, the text of which follows: FROM THE CHIEF'S DESK August 22, 2000 Greetings! I hope you are all enjoying the summer season. I wanted to send this message your way today because there has apparently been some confusion about a situation involving a nomination for a Meritorious Service Award for one of our firefighters. I want to make sure you know the facts about this issue: The Awards Committee receives and considers all nominations for Meritorious Service Awards. The Committee reviews the nominations, including information submitted about the action(s) that led to the nomination. The group then decides whether to recommend to me that the individual(s) be given an award. I personally review all award recommendations sent to me by the Awards Committee and determine whether the award will be given. Having reviewed the circumstances surrounding a rescue at a house fire on January 18, 1998, I determined that an award was not appropriate. This is not because I don't think that the Firefighter involved did something heroic-he did. He made a brave rescue of a fellow Firefighter. However, I was informed that the buddy system was not in use at the time of the accident and this is contrary to safety guidelines. The recommended award (with merits, etc.) was never issued. A memorandum without the final approval signature for issuance announcing the award was mistakenly posted on the O drive. I realize some people have taken issue with the opinion that this was a hazard area necessitating the use of the buddy system. This could present an opportunity to explore our perceptions about hazard areas and the best way to identify them for maximum safety benefits. My expectation is that everyone who responds to emergencies, and particularly officers, focus first on safety and identification of hazards to fire fighters and then how to effectively mitigate the emergency. An incapacitated fire fighter cannot accomplish his/her mission for the customer. That's why we focus on establishing the safest practices so that you will return whole and able to respond to the next emergency. Finally, there have been rumors floating around that the firefighter nominated in this case was stripped of another award and its accompanying merits. This is not true. These are the facts. I hope you will use them to be safer today and in the future. (James Sewell) Fire fighters reached for comment continue to cry 'foul' and have consistently stated that the actions of Leroy Sisley were proper under the circumstances, as dictated by the department's operating guidelines. Follow-up information: According to Fire Fighter Sisley, he HAS been awarded his merits for the Shoreline response and that matter appears to be appropriately closed. However, the issue regarding Sisley's 'save' of another fire fighter remains unresolved to the satisfaction of Sisley, other fire fighters, or members of the community. Additional information appears to indicate that although FireHouse Magazine has forwarded a citation to Seattle Fire Chief James Sewell for presentation to Fire Fighter Sisley, with respect to his 'save' of another fire fighter, this award has not been given to Mr. Sisley either. Fire Chief James Sewell can be reached at
james.sewell@ci.seattle.wa.us Bob Nelson can be reached at administrator@ndcrt.org |
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All contents copyright 1996 - 2005 by Bob Nelson |
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