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Hail to Texas’ Fire Chief of the Year

July 19, 2007

By HERB BOOTH / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning NewsHerb Booth is a Grand Prairie-based freelance writer.When Cedar Hill Fire Chief Steve Pollock was named statewide fire chief of the year this year, he was overwhelmed at the accolade.But what really got his attention was learning who signed the recommendation letter: everyone.

Every person, from the department’s newest recruit to the assistant fire chief, signed the recommendation in support of Chief Pollock. The honor is handed out annually by the Texas Fire Chiefs Association.”It’s tough to get that many people to agree on one thing,” said Chief Pollock, Cedar Hill’s top fire official for about three years. “

I was really surprised they could keep a secret that long, too.”Assistant Fire Chief John Ballard said Chief Pollock is passionate about fire service. He’s also gotten everyone on staff to “buy in” to everything the department does, he said.”

If we see someone on the side of the road out of gas, he encourages us to help them,” Mr. Ballard said. “

If it means using our gallon of gas to get them on the road again, we can do that.”If it means waiting until a husband or wife gets there, then we do that. He’s real customer-service oriented.”

City Manager Alan Sims said Chief Pollock, who was Odessa’s fire chief for 25 years before coming to Cedar Hill, has made a big difference in a short period of time.”

He really has empowered people,” Mr. Sims said. “We had a good department when the chief got here, but now we have a great one. He’s taken it to another level.”

Mr. Sims said the Fire Department recently got a new fire truck, but instead of making a decision on his own, the chief appointed a committee to see what kind of apparatus was needed.”

Now, they feel ownership in that truck, in that decision,” Mr. Sims said. “Those guys are engaged now.”

Chief Pollock’s work isn’t just at the local level, either.

Jim Gaston, executive director of the 700-member-strong Texas Fire Chiefs Association, said Chief Pollock has worked hard to help develop a statewide mutual aid program that recently went into law.

The new law resolves liability and reimbursement issues, allowing departments across the state to provide aid as needed during state or nationally declared emergencies, Mr. Gaston said.

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