Retired fire chief ‘happy’ he’s out

When he was appointed Las Vegas fire chief in 2001, David Washington joked he would "be the happiest fire chief you've ever seen."

Despite lagging response times in the northwest, claims of a racial agenda and acrimony with the firefighters union, Washington retired last week still wearing a smile.

"I could sit here and try to debate people about what I did or didn't do," Washington said earlier this month. "All I can say is I'm happy."

The city's first black fire chief pointed to a list of achievements during his tenure, including opening six new fire stations, adding more than 100 firefighters and securing international accreditation for the Fire Department. With last year's accreditation, the agency became the eighth in the world to be accredited and have the insurance industry's top rating.

He stepped down after 33 years to become a life coach and middle school substitute teacher.

City Manager Doug Selby said the Fire Department was "definitely better" than when Washington took the helm, noting the chief's ability to deal with the many issues, both operationally and politically, within the department.

"The chief is trying to serve a lot of masters there," Selby said. "I think chief Washington did a good job."

But the firefighters union president couldn't be happier to see Washington end his career.

"It's been a bad nightmare that I knew was going to happen," said Dean Fletcher of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1285.

Fletcher and the union had opposed Washington's appointment, and the gap between them has only grown in the past six "years of frustration," Fletcher said.

One of Fletcher's main complaints centered on Washington's choices for executive staff appointments, many of whom were black and friends of the chief, he said. The promotions set back race relations within the department, he said.

Washington got into hot water in 2002 for using the term "white boys" during a diversity training session, and former Deputy Fire Chief Ken Riddle filed a federal lawsuit in August claiming Washington fired him in 2006 because he is white.

Washington defended his record on promotions, saying they were within city policies and laws.

"I never broke the law," he said.

He wouldn't comment on the Riddle lawsuit, and he has said the "white boys" comment was misconstrued.

Selby said he has heard complaints from rank-and-file firefighters about a perceived favoritism in Washington's promotions, even though some senior firefighters passed on promotional opportunities because they would have taken pay cuts.

"It's a perception," Selby said. "I'm not sure I agree there's a strong reality there."

Either way, it's an issue the next chief must deal with, he said.

After Washington's 2002 comments, two thirds of union voters cast ballots of no confidence in the chief, Fletcher said. A vote now would probably come out worse, he said.

Fletcher criticized Washington's efforts to build new fire stations and hire firefighters for the fast-growing northwest part of the city, saying the chief failed to push city officials hard enough for money in the yearly budgets. As a result response times have approached eight minutes in the northwest, well above the department's six-minute goal.

"We get lucky a lot of times," Fletcher said.

Washington acknowledged the lagging response times. He said he fought for new stations but had to do so within the city's budget.

"I wish we could just wave a wand and get all the money we needed," he said.

Former City Councilman Michael Mack, who represented the northwest part of Las Vegas for six years, said Washington, then a deputy chief, was instrumental in pushing the 2000 ballot initiative that paid for four new fire stations and nearly 100 new firefighters.

"Washington was always supportive of more stations in the northwest," Mack said. "We're a fast-growing city, and maybe it's time for a new initiative."

Keeping up with growth, especially in the northwest part of the city, is a concern for the city, Selby said.

City and Fire Department officials have been discussing ways to shorten response times in the near future. Possibilities include building modular fire stations or converting houses into stations while permanent stations are planned and built, he said.

Other issues for the next fire chief include long-term planning for the city's growth and avoiding burnout for firefighters working double shifts, Selby said. Mike Myers is serving as the interim fire chief while the city performs a nationwide search for the new chief.

Selby said the new appointment would likely be made by January.

"We've got great guys and gals out there protecting the public," Selby said. "I believe they're going to do a great job regardless of who's leading the organization."

Despite his criticisms of Washington, whose last day was Oct. 1, Fletcher said the city had a good fire department, although it has some catching up to do. Picking a new fire chief will be the most important appointment the City Council makes, he said.

"I have my fingers crossed," he said.

Contact reporter Brian Haynes at bhaynes@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0281.