Tacoma Fire Department Policy 1000

• The Tacoma Fire Department's (TFD) Policy 1000 concerns departmental authority and responsibility and was made effective in April 2022.

Policy/Purpose

• The City of Tacoma Fire Department was legally established in July 1880 by City Ordinance No. 26.
• The TFD provides first response for all emergencies and disasters within its jurisdiction.
• Emergencies include: fire, emergency medical services, rescue, hazardous materials, and marine incidents.
• The Fire Chief and/or City Manager deem other incidents appropriate.
• Prevention of emergency events is a core departmental function.
• The Fire Chief establishes the department's vision, mission, and values.
• The Fire Chief prescribes rules and regulations for emergency operations and administration, consistent with nationally recognized best practices.
• The Fire Chief manages the department within the approved budget authorized by the City Manager and City Council.
• They adhere to, meet, or exceed local, state, and federal laws for the fire department's governance and service to the community.
• The goal of the department is uniform application of rules and regulations to all members.
• TFD policies, operating guidelines, and directives from the Fire Chief define rules, regulations, and procedures for the department.
• These policies supersede other TFD communications, with exceptions for areas covered by local, state, and federal laws, and collective bargaining agreements.

Definitions

• Policy: Rules and regulations are based on departmental, local, state, and federal laws, standards, and/or directives.
• Operating Guidelines: Additional information and recommended procedures needed to accomplish the directives of the policies.
• Operating guidelines must be adhered to unless there is a compelling and reasonable cause for deviation.

Responsibilities

• The Fire Chief is responsible for the development, administration, interpretation, and enforcement of fire department policies and operating guidelines.
• All TFD members must become familiar with and abide by TFD's policies and operating guidelines.
• The Fire Chief is responsible for maintaining this document.

References

• Relevant references include the Charter of the City of Tacoma, Tacoma Municipal Code, and the current TFD Organizational Chart.
• Tacoma Municpal Code falls under Chapter 1.06

Operating Guidelines – General Guidelines

• Direction of the City of Tacoma workforce, including TFD personnel, is vested exclusively with the City Manager and is delegated to the Fire Chief as per the Tacoma Municipal Code (TMC).
• Delegation to the include the authority to:
• Maintain efficient and economical conduct and operations of the department, as entrusted to the Fire Chief by the City Manager.
• Determine methods, means, and personnel by which such operations are to be conducted.
• Take necessary actions in emergency conditions, regardless of prior commitments, to carry out the mission of the agency.
  • Actions should not conflict with City ordinances and personnel rules.
• Direct, appoint, hire, promote, transfer, assign, and retain employees.
• Suspend, demote, discharge, or take other legitimate disciplinary action against employees.
• Relieve employees from duty because of lack of work, performance, or other legitimate reasons.
• The Fire Chief, with the approval of the City Manager, has the authority to:
• Manage and control all facilities and equipment assigned to the fire department and belonging to the City.
• Serve as the Administrator of Emergency Management for the City of Tacoma.

Department Organization

• TFD has an established organizational chart approved by the City Manager, that delineates chain of command and span of control within the department.
• Job classifications for each position listed on organizational chart are maintained by the City's Human Resources Department in cooperation with the Deputy Chief, Administration Bureau, and TFD's designated Human Resources Liaison.
• Specific information on job classifications can be accessed via the Human Resources page of the City's intranet site.
• TFD has an established chain of command intended to efficiently provide employees with a way to receive or pass on information, instructions, and/or requests.
• For reporting an EEO complaint, TFD employees may directly contact any supervisor, TFD EEO officer, City EEO officer, or external EEO compliance agency, in compliance with TFD's rules and regulations related to EEO.

Summary of the Tacoma Fire Department's Policy 1000 regarding departmental authority and responsibility. Established in 1880, the TFD responds to emergencies including fire, medical, rescue, and hazardous materials. Prevention is a core function, guided by the Fire Chief's rules and budget.