Phil Boriskie resigns as chief of Houston Fire Department

Special Bulletin From Chief Boriskie
Statement from Local 341

HFD Chief Phil Boriskie announced his resignation at a Tuesday morning press conference. Boriskie will stay with the department in another capacity, but Mayor Annise Parker must now find another chief to run the department.

Rumors of the chief’s impending resignation began swirling over the weekend, after the mayor publicly criticized how the department handled the latest development in a well-publicized vandalism incident at a Houston fire station.

One of the female firefighters who reported finding sexist and racist graffiti scrawled on her locker returned to work, but broke down in tears when confronted with a letter written by her fellow firefighters suggesting she might have written the graffiti herself.

In a statement released to 11 News, Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Jeff Caynon said Boriskie is regarded as one of the best chiefs in HFD’s history, citing improvements in training, response times and delivery of emergency medical services under his leadership.

Caynon said despite professional differences, Houston firefighters generally respect Boriskie and his good intentions.

“The truth is, Chief Boriskie was a victim of his good nature and management style, both of which left him vulnerable to political attack. For the past year, the opportunist politicians, extremist activists and disgruntled city employees who recklessly stereotyped local firefighters also treated the chief despicably,” Caynon said.

Caynon said the HPFFA is committed to improving workplace and labor conditions for local firefighters and is looking forward to advising city officials on selecting Boriskie’s successor.
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Chief Boriskie’s statement from KPRC News, Houston
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Houston fire chief stepping down
By Terri Langford and Dale Lezon in The Houston Chronicle
Houston Fire Chief Phil Boriskie is stepping aside effective Friday and returning to the firehouse, he said today. Boriskie, who has been with the department for nearly three decades, was appointed by former Mayor Bill White in 2004. He previously was chief of Station 4 in northwest Houston, although it was not immediately clear where he will go or when he’ll make the move.

“My heart never left the fire station,” said Boriskie, who became emotional at times during a news conference today, particularly when addressing fellow firefighters.

Executive Assistant Chief Rick Flanagan will lead the department for now, Mayor Annise Parker said.

The district became a flashpoint for the city last year, first when a noose was reported in a station in February, then when apparently simmering problems between men and women in Station 54 at Bush Intercontinental Airport erupted during the summer. Two women firefighters reported racist and sexist graffiti was scrawled in their quarters and on their belongings.

Last week one of those women, Jane Draycott, returned to the station for the first time since the summer and was met by Boriskie, his command staff, a psychologist and at least a dozen coworkers for what the chief called a “team building” session. Draycott said it turned into a “demeaning” confrontation that included rumors and rumblings about her sanity. Parker said the episode displayed “poor judgment” by Boriskie and his senior staff.

Boriskie last week said “the purpose of the meeting was to lay down the expectations and the treating of people with respect and professionalism in the transition of Jane coming back.”

City Hall spokesman Patrick Trahan today said Boriskie’s move today was voluntary and not an uncommon occurence when a new mayor takes office, but acknowledged the chief was in a tight spot.

“Based on the comments of the mayor and the nature of the situation, he had to make decisions,” Trahan said. However, Parker today said she urged him to remain in his position but accepted his letter of resignation when he offered it.

In his news conference, Boriskie noted that the first five of his six years in office “were a pretty smooth ride” before the events of 2009. He listed various improvements during his tenure, including more than doubling the number of paramedics and deploying them more effectively, improving equipment and apparatus, increasing the amount of training and reducing the number of firefighter injuries.

He also said the department led all city agencies in a customer satisfaction survey, which he pointedly reminded the audience was conducted by then-Controller Parker. It found 88 percent expressed confidence in the department, he said.

“It’s a tribute to the men and women of this department,” Boriskie said.

He said “competing agendas” led to the problems over the last year and continue to hamper the department.

“I will say with conviction that the Houston Fire Department will prevail from attacks, from critics who do not know all the facts,” Boriskie said.

Jeff Caynon, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, said in a written statement this morning that the rank and file “generally respect his character and his good intentions.”

“The truth is, Chief Boriskie was a victim of his good nature and management style, both of which left him vulnerable to political attack,” Caynon said.”For the past year, the opportunist politicians, extremist activists and disgruntled city employees who recklessly stereotyped local firefighters also treated the chief despicably.”
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Story By Doug Miller at KHOU News, Houston

Report from KTRK News, Houston