“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.

 

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