Acting Fire Chief Bamattre Picked to Lead Department

Mayor Richard Riordan on Monday selected the ultimate insider to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department through a challenging web of budget cutbacks, union strife and affirmative action reforms, nominating acting Chief Bill Bamattre to run the department.

In selecting Bamattre, Riordan bypassed a short list of candidates that included an African American and an Asian American and leaders of large urban fire departments from across the country, tapping instead a native Angeleno who has worn a Los Angeles Fire Department uniform for two decades and has already spent nearly a year sitting in the chief’s chair.

“It’s been a rough year of transition for us, and I appreciate the support never wavering,” said Bamattre, who at 44 will be the youngest person to lead the nation’s fifth-largest firefighting force since its founding in 1886. “It’s humbling to be in this position in the finest fire department in the world. It’s an honor and challenge that we take seriously.”

Two dozen firefighters, from young men in navy shirt-sleeves to department brass whose crossed-bugle lapel pins gleamed in the sun, joined Riordan and Bamattre at Fire Station No. 3 in downtown Los Angeles for the announcement, which came as no surprise to either rank-and-file firefighters or City Hall policymakers.

*

While Bamattre’s appointment still must be confirmed by the City Council, insiders said Monday that the job is his, with council approval just a formality. His salary has yet to be finalized but will be between $121,000 and $181,000, officials said.

Leaders of employee groups representing command staff and black, Latino and female firefighters had all sent letters endorsing Bamattre, one of 20 candidates considered in what Riordan called “an intense national search.”

Even the outspoken president of United Firefighters of Los Angles, Ken Buzzell, expressed cautious support for Bamattre on Monday, saying he was glad to see someone from the department chosen. But he remains unsure whether Bamattre will stand up to Riordan and insist that the quality of fire service cannot be maintained if budgets continue to dwindle.

“Being an interim, it’s difficult to stand your ground,” Buzzell said, moments before shaking hands with his new leader. “Now that he’s been named the chief, we’ll find out what he’s really about, we’ll see the real Bill Bamattre.”

Bamattre was born and raised in Baldwin Hills. His first experience with firefighting came via a part-time job to help pay his tuition at Stanford University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1974. He returned to Los Angeles and joined the Fire Department in January 1976, then hopscotched around the department, handling assignments in a variety of geographical areas and special department bureaus.

When Chief Donald O. Manning abruptly retired last April after months of turmoil over diversity in the department, a divided Fire Commission plucked Bamattre--who was then just a battalion chief, several rungs down from chief--because of his political experience and academic background.

Bamattre has served as mayor and city councilman in Dana Point, and he has a master’s degree in public administration from Cal State Los Angeles. While Bamattre and his wife of 14 years, Liz, still live in Orange County, they said Monday they plan to move to Los Angeles in time for their two sons to start at new schools this fall.

“This is a guy [who] takes a difficult situation with a lot of heat and is able to calm the waters, cool people down, be very rational, very fair and come to a solution that most people can accept,” Fire Commission President David Fleming said Monday. “That’s what this department needs.”

Fleming and council members Laura Chick and Jackie Goldberg, all of whom joined Riordan for final interviews with the six top candidates, each said they were pleased by the process and confident that Bamattre was the best choice.

Chick, Goldberg and Fleming all focused on Bamattre’s success at building relationships with various groups inside the department, and said that will be an ongoing challenge as he helps the department deal with budget cuts and continued efforts at hiring and promoting women and minorities.

“He has many bosses. He has quite a few musicians to dance to,” Goldberg noted. “He has to get all of the constituents of the fire service to sing from the same song sheet. I think he’s good at that sort of thing.”

*

Bamattre also earned compliments Monday from his key competitors.

San Diego Fire Chief Robert Osby, Ventura County Chief James E. Sewell and Darrell D. Higuchi, deputy chief of the Los Angeles County department--three of the six finalists--all said that they felt the process was fair and that the mayor weighed their qualifications carefully--though Osby was miffed that he learned about the choice from a reporter rather than getting a condolence call from the city.

At Monday’s press conference, Riordan praised Bamattre’s leadership skills, calling him a “great role model.”

“Bill leads by example. He pursues innovation and excellence,” the mayor said. “He has the vision and the will to lead the Los Angeles Fire Department into then 21st century.”

As chief, Bamattre will run a department with a budget of about $428 million and 3,500 employees, about 400 of them civilians. Only 90 of the firefighters are women. He said he expects to administer new promotional exams soon and to pick a command staff within about four months.

“I want to get diversity. I’m not just talking about ethnic diversity, but experience on the job and skills,” Bamattre said in an interview. The greatest challenge, he said, will be keeping the huge department ready to respond to crises ranging from earthquakes to brush fires to floods to urban riots.

“What I’d like to see is the department be in a more flexible position to respond to situations,” the new chief said.

Several high-ranking fire officials said Monday they would have considered retiring had Bamattre not gotten the job.

“He’s one of the smartest people I’ve ever met at the Fire Department,” said Battalion Chief Millage Peaks , who attended the fire academy with Bamattre (they were among the 60 graduates in a class that began with 160 members). “He’s visionary. He’s loyal to the city. He’s loyal to the citizens. He’s young, he’s energetic, he demands a lot from the people who are working for him and he gives a lot back.”

Perhaps no one was more proud, however, than 11-year-old Jacob Bamattre, who wants to be a firefighter when he grows up.

“I’m glad that he got it,” Jacob said. “I think it’s good saving other people’s lives and helping people. I like the big trucks most of all.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Profile: Bill Bamattre

On Monday, Mayor Richard Riordan nominated Bill Bamattre as city fire chief.

* Age: 44

* Residence: Dana Point

* Education: Stanford University, 1974, bachelor’s degree in political science; Cal State Los Angeles, 1986, master’s degree in public administration.

* Career highlights: A 20-year veteran of the Fire Department, Bamattre was battalion chief until he was plucked from the ranks in April 1995 to serve as interim chief.

* Interests: Addicted to chocolate. Active in politics in Dana Point, where he previously served as a member of the City Council and as mayor.

* Family: Married for 14 years to Liz. They have two sons, ages 13, and 11.