I was informed today through the Pioneer Press that the Local 21 Chapter of the International Association of Firefighters had filed a motion to censure me at yesterday?s national conference of the IAFF, citing their ?disappointment? with me as the Saint Paul Fire Chief. Having served as the Vice President of an IAFF chapter in the past, I take the IAFF actions seriously, but with the understanding of what it is: a political tool designed to exert pressure on a Fire Chief who ?the union" isn?t happy with. A lot of great fire chiefs around the nation have been censored by the International based on unsubstantiated complaints from their local chapter leadership. These complaints are not vetted for truth, offer no opportunity to present ?the other side of the story," in many cases do not reflect the true feelings within the fire department, and they cast aspersions on the great work and accomplishments that those fire chiefs and the members of fire departments have achieved together. The job of Fire Chief the job of all senior executives in public service - is a difficult job, demanding the weighing, balancing, and merits of a lot of competing interests. Fire Chiefs make tough decisions, and not all of them make everyone happy. I have focused my efforts on improving firefighter safety, improving services to Saint Paul residents and visitors, building a more inciusive workforce, and treating firefighters and their families with dignity and honor. I am proud of the accomplishments that the Saint Paul Fire Department has achieved in the past eight years. We have increased the number of paramedic units in the City, added 18 Firefighters to our authorized strength, increased staffing on fire units, and brought daily staffing to the highest level in years. The supermedic program has fundamentally improved our delivery of both fire suppression and emergency paramedic services. We have leveraged both taxpayer funding and grant opportunities to provide new tools and new apparatus, enhanced personal protective equipment so that every on duty firefighter now has a portabie radio and an air pack for dangerous atmospheres, and brought enhanced training programs to our personnel. New programs like SWAT medics, the Minnesota Aviation Rescue Team, and the job-training and career-building EMS Academy for Saint Paul youth have enhanced our ability and capacity to deal with new threats and new opportunities. We?ve consolidated old fire stations, built a new headquarters/fire station complex, expanded one fire station for crew safety, and are expanding the Highland Park station to provide better service to the residents of the City without adding additional staffing to do so. No firefighters were laid off during my tenure as Fire Chief. These accomplishments were made through the efforts of many people in the department and throughout the City. Individuals, small groups of dedicated Firefighter, union leaders, the Chief Officers of the IAFF Local 3939, and a wide variety of department committees all worked to make these things happen. Through all of this work I have sought input, recommendations, and criticism from Firefighters, Chief Officers, civilian staff, and citizens. My door has been perpetually open for all, and I have treated Firefighters with leniency, deference, and respect. If that is ?disappointing? to some, so be it. I am not perfect, and I have made mistakes. When I?ve inadvertently harmed someone, I have apologized and worked to make amends. My plan is to continue to focus on improving citizen service delivery, making Firefighters safer, honoring the traditions and people in this great organization, and being prudent with the fiscal resources taxpayers invest in this department. I will continue to make the hard decisions needed to continue that work. That's what I was hired to do, and I'll continue doing it for as long as I am privileged to serve as Fire Chief of the City of Saint Paul.