SUBJECT
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Confirm the appointment of Shawn Smith to serve as Polk County Fire Rescue Services Director (Fire Rescue Chief).
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DESCRIPTION
The Polk County Charter specifies the county manager's appointment of executive service employees is subject to confirmation by the Board of County Commissioners.
Chief Smith's appointment as the Interim Fire Chief was confirmed by the Board on September 13, 2024. The County Manager recommends Chief Smith's confirmation as the permanent Fire Chief for the Polk County Fire/Rescue Services, effective March 4, 2025.
Shawn has been a Polk County Fire Resue member for 21 years, starting his tenure in 2003. He has held every position in the Fire Rescue Division and was promoted to company officer in 2007.
In 2016, he was promoted to Battalion Chief/Paramedic, where he effectively managed multiple stations, including supervising and coaching crewmembers. He also led and coordinated emergency medical treatment and transportation, firefighting, rescue operations, and hazardous materials incidents.
In 2019, Shawn became the Deputy Chief of Training, where he was responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering training to 680 members. He was responsible for introducing nine Training Officers to the Training Division while interjecting a new training platform. The latest training platform revolutionized PCFR's Training Division, which included improved state-of-the-art promotion processes, promotional academies, and a Mentorship program for new hires and newly promoted members. He also gained local and state recognition by introducing QR codes in the Training Division and was recognized by a third-party consulting firm as providing the catalyst for positive organizational change.
In 2021, Shawn became the Deputy Chief of Operations. As the Chief of Operations, he was responsible for the daily activities of 45 stations, over 100 emergency vehicles, and 700 crewmembers. He was responsible for creative staffing policies during...
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