Supervisors name new L.A. County Fire Department chief
Los Angeles County supervisors selected Daryl Osby to be their next fire chief Tuesday, making him the first African American to lead the department.
Osby, 49, is a 27-year veteran of the department and is in charge of its business operations. He has previous experience as the top commander during major incidents, including the 2003 and 2005 fires in Topanga Canyon.
He was selected from a group of department insiders and inherits an agency long considered among the leaders in firefighting tactics and strategy. In addition to traditional structure and water-rescue units, the department has a large Air and Wildland Division that includes camp crews, bulldozer units and water-dropping helicopters. It has an annual budget of $923-million.
The department’s current chief, P. Michael Freeman, 65, is one of the county’s most respected officials and has held the post for more than two decades. County supervisors have been reluctant to let Freeman go and successfully lobbied Sacramento to pass a law in 2005 allowing him to keep the job past the mandatory retirement age of 60.
In 2009, Freeman announced his retirement, but the supervisors talked him into staying for more than a year longer.
Freeman will step down next month after salary negotiations with Osby are complete.
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EDITOR'S PICKS:
Our Board of Supervisors couldn't have made a better choice. Chief Osby is a respected fire service professional and has some good leadership skills. He hopefully will be a good follow up to Chief P. Michael Freeman who really did the pepole of this county a great service as their Fire Chief.
Posted by: Norm Silver | February 08, 2011 at 08:43 PM
I am extremely proud of newly appointed Fire Chief Daryl Osby. He is so deserving of this appointment. The Los Angeles County Fire Department is on the verge of great change with a great leader leading the way! I wish the very best to Chief Osby and congratulate and celebrate this historical achievement.
Posted by: Michele Mathieu | February 09, 2011 at 05:26 AM
We can only hope the reason Mr. Osby was selected was because he was the best person for the job, not a move to applacate the demons of political correctness and affirmative action.
If the board did not want to see Mr. Freeman leave, what "great change" must be enacted at the Fire Department, is there something going on we are unaware of Ms. Mathieu?
Posted by: The Voice of Reason | February 09, 2011 at 12:33 PM
To The Voice of Reason:
For you to even mention that Affirmative Action is the reason for the appointment of Mr. Osby, shows that you must believe that his skin color alone makes him unqualified for the position. If he was white would you automatically assume that he was qualified?
Posted by: TeeBee | February 09, 2011 at 08:33 PM
I'm tired of People pulling the SKIN Card when people are qualified for the JOB And The JOB Only!!
Posted by: Lisa Marie | February 10, 2011 at 01:19 PM
Chief Osby has held "Every" position is the department. He is the ONLY Executive to run both business and emergency operations side of this department. He is clearly the most qualified individual to run this department. For those haters......STOP HATING!
Conrats Chief Osby!
Posted by: TL | February 10, 2011 at 04:23 PM
I have known Chief Osby for more than 30 years and he is the best man for the job! Congratulations Chief Osby!
Posted by: I. Trammel | February 11, 2011 at 02:13 PM
Why do people assume other people are hating when they question the motives of politicians when it comes to appointments?
I hope this guy does a good job, but we all have a right to be weary of what our politicians are doing
Posted by: u know | February 12, 2011 at 10:53 PM