Firefighters Union President Supports Acting Fire Chief

The Pasadena Firefighters Union expressed support of Acting Fire Chief Bryan Frieders on Wednesday when contacted by Pasadena Now.

“We are confident in Chief Frieders’ leadership and his ability to carry out the Fire Department’s Mission,” said Sean Timoney, president of PFFA Local 809. “The community is in good hands and Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 looks forward to our continued collaboration during Chief Frieders time as Acting Fire Chief.”

Timoney did not mention outgoing Fire Chief Bertral Washington in his statement.

Washington was moved to the City Manager’s office on Wednesday after City Manager Steve Mermell placed him on special assignment.

“Washington will work on the City Management team and me to implement projects related to public safety including the City’s Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) program,” Mermell said.

Mermell told Pasadena Now on Wednesday that Washington is still a city employee and has received no reduction in pay.

The Fire Chief’s top salary is about $228,000 per year, according to information posted on the City’s website.

Washington clashed with the Pasadena Firefighters Association over mourning bands honoring firefighters that died battling deadly fires in 2018.

A judge later admonished the City for not retracting a petition created to garner support for Washington.

Administrative Law Judge Bernard Rohrbacher found the Pasadena Fire Dept. violated the law governing collective bargaining for public employees — the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act — by circulating the letter/petition among union members, “in a manner that tended to coerce them to sign it and to, thereby, side with management against Local 809.”

Rohrbacher ordered the department not to circulate petitions in such a manner again. The city was also forced to post a notice to employees regarding the ruling for 30 days.

The move left some concerned about diversity in city leadership. Three of the last four fire chiefs, Ernest Mitchell, Calvin Wells and Washington, have been African American.

“Even before the situation with our respected Fire Chief Bertral Washington, I shared with City Manager Steve Mermell that I have not been happy that there not more African Americans on his Executive Leadership Team,” said Councilman John Kennedy.

Local residents began responding to the move late Wednesday with praise for Washington.

“Bertral Washington has been an exceptional leader while with  the Pasadena Fire Department,” said Robin Salzer. “I’ve known Bert personally and professionally and he has always put the department and the city first before himself. Two years ago I spoke with Bert about my concerns regarding a potential fire in the Arroyo due to overgrowth and dead foliage. He walked through the areas of concern and in two days Pasadena Public Works cleared out the entire Southern part of the Arroyo.”

Washington was hired by then City Manager Michael Beck in 2014.  He came to Pasadena from the Clark County Fire Department in Nevada. Prior to serving as Clark County Fire Chief, he worked for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue moving through the ranks as a firefighter, paramedic, training officer, Captain, Battalion Chief and Assistant Chief.

Washington was selected from a pool of about 42 applicants from across the country. Several finalists were chosen by a selection panel of community members, Fire Department staff, executive leadership team representatives and fire chiefs from other jurisdictions.