Fire Chief Ethics

Preface

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We live in county where a near majority of county officials who possess a considerable amount of power all attend the same church, all attended the same high school, and all belong to the same social circles. It is a system of reward where who you are related to or “buddy” with is prioritized over experience, integrity, and most of all merit. Encapsulated in a “protected class”, for all intensive purposes, these individuals possess no accountability for their actions, and only follow the letter of the law as they see fit.

The International Association of Fire Chiefs Code of Ethics

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The purpose of the IAFC is to actively support the advancement of the fire and emergency service, dedicated to the protection and preservation of life and property against fire, provision of emergency medical services and other emergency response. To this end, every IAFC member shall represent those ethical principles consistent with professional conduct as members of the association:

1. Recognize that we serve in a position of public trust that imposes responsibility to use publicly owned resources effectively and judiciously.
2. Not use a public position to obtain advantages or favors for friends, family, personal business ventures, or ourselves.
3. Use information gained from our positions only for the benefit of those we are entrusted to serve.
4. Conduct our personal affairs in such a manner that we cannot be improperly influenced in the performance of our duties.
5. Avoid situations whereby our decisions or influence may have an impact on personal financial interests.
6. Seek no favor and accept no form of personal reward for influence or official action.
7. Engage in no outside employment or professional activities that may impair or appear to impair our primary responsibilities as fire officials.
8. Comply with local laws and campaign rules when supporting political candidates and engaging in political activities.
9. Handle all personnel matters on the basis of merit.
10. Carry out policies established by elected officials and policy makers to the best of our ability.
11. Refrain from financial investments or business that conflicts with, or is enhanced by our official position.
12. Refrain from endorsing commercial products through quotations, use of photographs, testimonials, for personal gain.
13. Develop job descriptions and guidelines at the local level to produce behaviors in accordance with the code of ethics.
14. Conduct training at the local level to inform and educate local personnel about ethical conduct and policies and procedures.
15. Have systems in place at the local level to resolve ethical issues.
16. Orient new employees to the organization’s ethics program during new employee orientation.
17. Review the ethics management program in management training experiences.
18. Deliver accurate and timely information to the public and to elected policymakers to use when deciding critical issues.

SUBMITTED BY: IAFC Ethics Committee ADOPTED BY: IAFC Board of Directors, May 2003