“A CAREER TO REMEMBER”
ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF ED THACHER

A Tribute by the Los Angeles County
Association Of Chiefs

Firefighter Ed Thacher

With a great degree of anticipation and a newly discovered sense of nostalgia, Assistant Fire Chief Ed Thacher will retire from County service on March 28, 2005. His retirement comes after serving the Los Angeles County Fire Department for the past 31 years.

Ed began his career on November 26, 1973 along with 33 other newly hired members in the 42nd recruit class. Serving in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968, including a tour of duty in Viet Nam, Ed found the para-military environment of the fire department an ideal match to his background and training. Ed explained that “although I never had a particular desire to be a fireman I did find the job very intriguing. I knew I had the mechanical aptitude for the job and I certainly had an interest in the excitement of fire and rescue”.

After recruit graduation, Ed’s first year of service found him assigned to FS 107. “My first assignment at FS 107 was a great start that I will never forget”, explains Ed. “The crew was a great influence on me and I had the time of my life”. As great influences are vital for the success of a new firefighter, Ed’s initial experience at FS107 was the first in a series of great influences and great assignments.

As his career developed through the 1970’s as a firefighter, firefighter paramedic and firefighter specialist, he found homes at FS20, FS3 and FS50. Promoting to Fire Captain in 1982, Ed chose assignments in some of the busier areas of the County to include FS163 and FS164. He recalls with youthful exuberance that, “my days assigned to Engine 163 were some of the best times as a captain. I had really great crews and we ran our butts off and had a ball every day!”

"Recruit Firefighter" Thacher with Fire Chief Richard Houts in January 1974

With his skills as a supervisor becoming well honed, Ed began to reflect on his future and how he could amplify his leadership and management skills and how he might better serve the Department. Although torn between holding on to an ideal assignment as an “operations” Fire Captain in one of the busiest areas in the County or, moving forward in the organization, Ed opted for the latter, choosing a challenging staff assignment as Paramedic Coordinator. It was during this staff assignment that Ed began to understand that his skills in “management” would define his destiny.

After 2 years in the Paramedic Coordinators office, Ed’s efforts and successes were recognized and rewarded as he achieved the rank of Battalion Chief. As it does with all newly promoted battalion chiefs, management presented new challenges to Ed. Assigned to BN5 and then BN13, Ed spent considerable time learning the nuances of his new position by trying to understand the needs of those under his command. Of equal importance he learned the importance and value of building leadership equity with all of his work associates.

With his management skills now clearly exposed, the Executive Office determined that such skills would be best suited for a new assignment as the Director of Emergency Medical Services. Ed considered this assignment to be very challenging. Deputy Chief Daryl Osby and Battalion Chief Greg Jones worked for Ed as Captain Paramedic Coordinators during this period of Ed’s career. Greg Jones remembers the “…long hours, complicated material, and a host of decisions awaiting their shop everyday”. Yet as Jones recalls, “ it was Ed’s leadership, organization, firm demeanor, and his ability to understand people and a willingness to find common ground on important issues” that were qualities that left with a “clear impression on how to be a successful manager”.

"Captain" Thacher and his crew from E163 in the mid-1980s

Ed’s personal development and development as a chief officer also drove his interests toward his participation within the Los Angeles County Association Of Chiefs (AOC). “The AOC means a great deal to me” explains Ed as he reflected upon his tenure as both a Director and AOC President. “I know some folks think the AOC can’t do much or doesn’t do much, but the truth is, a lot does get done”. During his 6-year Board participation, Ed saw a number of successes that he and his associate Board members worked so hard to bring to fruition.

Such successes included convincing the Fire Chief to purchase new Suburbans, split the once geographically enormous BN11 into two manageable battalions, eliminate the battalion chief “work-short” program, improve management training formats and, keep Fair Standards Labor Act (FSLA) for battalion chiefs. Ed adds proudly that, “It was the concerted efforts of the AOC that got the County to count the built in 10 hours in FLSA towards retirement. Volunteers who do the best they can without the benefit of lawyers and paid professional staff”. Further, Ed adds that, “the AOC is not just about pay, but professionalism, training and portraying the Department in a good light. There are many other things the AOC has done that have been forgotten by time. I can tell you that the Fire Chief definitely thinks about the AOC before he makes a decision. It may not always go our way, but the AOC does have influence. Believe me when I say, if the AOC did not exist, there would be a vacuum that would be not be favorable to the membership”.

In 1996, Ed found a new home in the BN9 office. He became very familiar with the battalion, the jurisdiction and the personnel and over time was called upon to act as the interim Assistant Fire Chief of all of Division IV.

"Firefighter/Paramedic" Thacher offers his best "Johnny and Roy" impersonation

In 2002, while still assigned to BN9, Ed was asked by Fire Chief Freeman to assume interim responsibilities of the Employee Relations (ER) Division. He ultimately found this interim assignment to ER a very satisfying experience. “I was asked by Chief Freeman to oversee the Division and to provide the Executive Office with a detailed report as to how ER could be improved” remembered Ed. His desire to see that appropriate disciplinary policies and adjudication of personnel complimented by his self-characterized “practical thinking”, made the prospects of the interim assignment very appealing. Ed saw the assignment as an opportunity to encourage the “civilian” staff within Employee Relations to trust in the “uniformed” managers to execute appropriate disciplinary action. Ed felt clearly that “with a little guidance and understanding from both sides, all members would benefit.”

Although all recommendations within his report have not been realized, he still holds out hope that Chief Freeman will recognize their importance and implement them where needed.

During Ed’s tenure as AOC President, he worked hard at fostering a strong working relationship with the department’s Executive Staff, specifically Chief Freeman. As AOC President, not all of the conversations between he and that of the Fire Chief were pleasant yet, according to Ed, “to the benefit of the AOC, there was always open dialogue”. As Ed explains, “I respect how much work the Fire Chief does and his work ethic”. He’s accomplished a lot during his time here. I have come to know and understand that the Fire Chief is someone who can get things done and a man who can do anything he sets his mind to.” At times relentless in his lobbying of the Fire Chief on topical issues, Ed felt strongly that together with AOC persistence and the Fire Chief’s political influence the membership would ultimately become better and stronger.

In 2004, Ed saw that both time and opportunity were right for him to advance his career and promote to the rank of Assistant Fire Chief. Battalion chiefs, for a variety of economic reasons, oft approach promotion to this rank with reluctance. Ed too held this same concern yet he knew that he had reached a period in his career whereby the battalion chief’s position was no longer offering him the challenges that it once had. As he explained, “I enjoyed the BC’s job very much yet I had got to a point where I had simply chased down my last Outside Employment Verification Form and performed other routine administrative task and felt that it was time to move on…”. Ed also felt strongly that by promoting to Assistant Fire Chief he could lend his expertise as a tenured manager for the betterment of the Department all the while setting an example for other battalion chiefs. Ultimately, his assignment as Division IV provided him the opportunity to make important operational changes and provide a positive influence upon his labor and management subordinates.

Reflecting upon those who have provided him great influence in both his personal life and professional career, Ed is without hesitation in offering recognition and praise to his mentors. “I had the opportunity to work with some great men who instilled in me strength and confidence to execute as a manager. Jim Sheppard, Jay Corbett, Pete Douty and Bill Zeason are just a few of those individuals to whom I owe so much”, remembers Ed. An important lesson Ed learned from his mentors that he hopes current and future LACoFD managers will employ is that of “subordinate empowerment”. Ed describes it as a simple matter of “assigning responsibility and a commensurate amount of authority”. Ed claims this is a policy that he has always believed in and something he has practiced for many years.

 

Ed at home for the holidays with his wife Judy and sons Ryan (left) and Ethan (right).

Beyond praise for his mentors, Ed also reflects upon the value of his family and the value of the friendships he holds very close. Husband to his wife Judy for the past 35-years and father of two grown children, Ed considers his greatest personal success to be the closeness that he and his family share. And, with a grandchild due in weeks, he anticipates his family bond to grow even stronger. His friendship with those whom he has worked with so closely for the past many years, including Gary Lockhart, Mel Hokanson, Greg Jones and Vince Pena, are friendships that he expects will keep him close to the fire department well into his retirement years. Mel Hokanson recalls the “competitive spirit” Ed had when they worked around one another in Battalion 3 and 13 the early 1980’s. Hokanson fondly remembered that, “Ed has always been great to work around. He’s has always been quick to offer practical advice when warranted. Those who worked for Ed as well as those who sit at higher levels of the organization can always count on Ed for his guidance and his advice.”

Ed with his pals doing what they like best..

Calling to him as if he were a child remanded to finishing his homework before he can go out and play are his close friends who have preceded him in retirement. Paul Hacker, John Mastright and Ron Magnuson all of whom have provided him years of friendship are now providing him the incentive and encouragement to follow them into a well-earned retirement.

“My retirement plans include more time in Mammoth, enjoying my new grandson, adventure trips with the Hackers, trips to Europe, New Zealand, South America and who knows where else”, says Ed. “I’ve got lots of work to do on the house” and quoting one of his long time friends, Mike Gregg, “I’ll spend some time adjusting to supervisory separation anxiety”. Ed explains too that he’ll spend some time trying to retiring his “magic finger…. that finger I would wave and things would just get done!”.

Understanding that some of his peers have characterized him as “opinionated” and sometimes “gruff”, Ed actually prefers the more common moniker bestowed upon him some years ago of “Nitro”. “I suppose the term fits as I do tend to get a little caught up now and then in an issue or two” explains Ed. Yet, he is left undaunted. On self-reflection, Ed feels that he has “always tried to be honest” with everyone I have worked with”. “When you work with me, you get what you see” explains Ed of his approach to honesty and interaction with others. Others agree. Long time friend, Battalion Chief Vince Pena, characterizes Ed as someone he could “always get a straight answer from”. He continued by explaining that, “I know clearly that when I seek advise regarding work issues or personal issues, I can always expect a straight answer … like it or not”. Pena also reflects upon Ed’s dedication to the well being of others. “On more than one occasion Ed has been there for me and my family, even when I least expected it. He’s a true friend”.

Although it is often said that the new firefighters of today are no compare to the firefighters of yesterday, Ed rebuffs such inferences exalting steadfast hope that the future of the Department is secure and that it will remain one of the best Departments in the world. Ed perspective is, “I’ve always been inspired by the way we [LACoFD firefighters] are able to change and adapt to any situation. No matter what happens or what we’re confronted with, we always make it work and we’ll do well”.

To send well wishes, greetings and other salutations to “Citizen” Ed Thacher, he can be contacted after April 1, 2005 at the following address:

Ed and Judy Thacher
22136 Sabroso
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
fyrbiz@cox.net