My chief used to dress like a City Manager or a business man back in the mid-to-late late 1990s to early 2000s. He'd occasionally wear his white F.D. shirt and gold badge but it was unusual if he did. His reasoning was that his uniform was "intimidating" when he met with contractors and other business people, or even with the mayor and city council people. We used to get on him about not wearing his uniform but he continued to wear his "business man's attire" all the time. Same way with his vehicles through the years: no markings, just a fire department license plate and a dash light. He was hired at our department in early 1989, and his first car was a blue 1989 Ford Crown Vic and it had regular Missouri license plates. Sure, it had a dash light, but other than that it looked like an unmarked police car!
He wants to stay incognito to this day in his maroon 2005 Ford Explorer. It would look nice "dressed up" but he doesn't want it that way. God forbid we should have to spend money doing that!
Over the past 8 or so years he's been wearing his uniform and gold badge every day to work. I don't know the reason for the change. Maybe he decided that the chief's look was the best look after all; I don't know.
Personally I like staff vehicles with graphics and light bars. That does let the public know who we are, that their fire officials are out and about taking care of business and protecting them. I can see a large department or district with several stations where the chief of department's vehicle is a slick top and has no graphics on it. But my department consists of 18 personnel and 1 station; too small for an inconspicuous chief's vehicle, in my opinion. I hope this changes with the next chief.
Rick, I agree with you all the way!
He wants to stay incognito to this day in his maroon 2005 Ford Explorer. It would look nice "dressed up" but he doesn't want it that way. God forbid we should have to spend money doing that!
Over the past 8 or so years he's been wearing his uniform and gold badge every day to work. I don't know the reason for the change. Maybe he decided that the chief's look was the best look after all; I don't know.
Personally I like staff vehicles with graphics and light bars. That does let the public know who we are, that their fire officials are out and about taking care of business and protecting them. I can see a large department or district with several stations where the chief of department's vehicle is a slick top and has no graphics on it. But my department consists of 18 personnel and 1 station; too small for an inconspicuous chief's vehicle, in my opinion. I hope this changes with the next chief.
Rick, I agree with you all the way!
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