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Fire Department Chief Ronnie Few
Letter to Councilmembers regarding questions about his résumé
May 8, 2002

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Table of Contents

Personal Statement
Chronology of Events, Attachment 1
Letter to Chairman Cropp from Mayor Anthony A. Williams (Submitted with enclosures with incorrect information), Attachment 2
Testimonies submitted for Public Record, Attachments 3, 4
Internal Communications to correct errors from Raymond Sneed (Submitted with enclosures with incorrect information), Attachment 5 [handwritten material; not available online]
External Communications to correct errors, Attachment 6 [handwritten material; not available online]
Internal Communications to correct errors from Raymond Sneed, Attachment 7
Additional Internal Communications, Attachments 8, 9
Accomplishments achieved under the leadership of Chief Ronnie Few, Attachment 10

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GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001

ADDRESS REPLY TO
'FIRE CHIEF'

May 8, 2002

The Honorable _____
Councilmember
The Wilson Building
Suite ___
Washington, D.C. 20004

Dear Councilmember _____:

At this point, it is imperative to me to have the truth known. I can no longer remain silent. Little
attention has been given publicly to the tremendous changes and accomplishments achieved thus far
under my leadership.

Inconsistencies in various versions of my resume came to light in August. The ONLY version of my resume that I prepared or had an opportunity to review was given to the search firm before I came to Washington for an interview.

To the best of my knowledge, at this point, the first incorrect version of my resume was submitted by the Mayor's office on June 15, 2000 to Ms. Cropp as the Chair of the Council of the District of Columbia. I was still in Georgia and did not see this document. The second grossly inaccurate version of my resume was written by the Union and was corrected and returned to them by my Public Information Office on September 11,2000. Councilmember Schwartz is recorded in testimony of September 27, 2000, responding to Ms. Brazil, stating that she had researched my testimony and that I had in fact given the correct information during my confirmation testimony. It is apparent that there are those who, for their own purposes, continue to focus attention on any area where the resume misinformation has not been corrected. Somehow, I thought that when I provided the correct background information at my Confrmation Hearing - and subsequently - that I fulfilled my ethical and legal obligation to my new employer and the Washington community.

Unfortunately, during this time I did rely on staff to follow-up on the web site and file corrections. The inadvertent misinformation contained in various places (or any faux pas, misstep or stumble) has been used to systematically conduct a professional character assassination - by those who do not want an "outsider" as Fire Chief.

Sincerely,
Ronnie Few
Fire/EMS Chief

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Attachment 1: Chronology of Events

  • The search firm contacted Chief Few in Augusta, Ga.
  • Chief Few submitted package to search firm with correct educational and awards information.
  • Search Firm submitted his package to Washington
  • June 14, 2000 Letter submitted by Mayor to Linda Cropp with incorrect information pertaining to the Chiefs Educational Background and the source of award (not reviewed by Chief Few)
  • September 27, 2000 testimony submitted for public record by Chief Few,
    "1 am a native of East Point Georgia. After graduating from the local high school, I attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta and eventually graduated from Dekalb College with an Associates Degree in Fire Science. I am very close to receiving a degree from the University of Cincinnati in Administration/Engineering."
  • October 19, 2000 Summary report submitted by Harold Brazil to All Council members, page 3, paragraph 1, Biographical Information
    "1 am a native of East Point, Georgia-a small southern town rooted in family and community. I attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta and graduated from Dekalb College, with a degree in Fire Science. Today, I am one semester away from a degree from the University of Cincinnati in Fire Administration and Engineering. Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a firefighter - to serve people, serve my community and save lives. "
  • August 11, 2000 Fax Document submitted to the FEMS PIO with incorrect biographical information from Raymond Sneed, Local 36 requesting biographical information for a newsletter with note, "Please check this information for accuracy. It will be published in the next issue of the Capital City Firefighter. I will call later. Ray."
  • Page 2 of the August 11, 2000 Fax Document to the FEMS PIO from Raymond Sneed, Local 36 contains hand written corrections to the incorrect information
  • September 11, 2000, Response back to Raymond Sneed from FEMS PIO with itemized detailed instructions to correct every resume discrepancy on the document that Raymond Sneed submitted.
  • September 27, 2000, during the public hearing, a dialogue with Dorothy Brazil and Council member Carol Schwartz took place in reference to issues pertaining to Chief Few's resume. Dorothy Brazil acknowledged for the record that there were two (2) resumes (both submitted by the Mayor's office) that both contained incorrect information. Council member Schwartz responds to Dorothy Brazil's questions in reference to the two resumes that were submitted by the Mayors office: "I did want to point out that the alleged discrepancies, that you mentioned in Chief Few's resume, I did note, I went back and I got his testimony and he did say in this testimony that was presented to us today that in 1998 he received the Fire Chief of the Year Award from the Holmes Executive Development Institute and the Most Innovative Fire Chief of the Year from the Carl Holmes Development Institute, so I didn't know if you were present at the time of the testimony." Council member Schwartz then acknowledges that she had not seen the resumes that came from the Mayor's office but that Chief Few did offer the correct information in his testimony.
  • April 10, 2002 Email from Margaret Kellems acknowledged the incorrect information on the website.
  • April 10, 2002 meeting with FEMS PIO Director Lisa Bass ordered removal of incorrect information from the website.
  • April 15, 2002 Memorandum to All FEMS PIO from Gary Garland, Ass. Fire Chief, Services ordered all inquiries in reference to Chief Few's resume be referred back to the confirmation hearing where his resume issues were for the public record stated correctly by Chief Few.

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Attachment 2

ANTHONY A. WILLIAMS
MAYOR

June 14, 2000

The Honorable Linda W. Cropp
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
441 4h Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001

Dear Chairman Cropp:

In accordance with the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March-3, 1979, (D.C. Law 2142; D.C. Code § 1-633.7), I am pleased to nominate Ronnie Few as the Chief of the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

I have enclosed a summary of the nominee's experience and qualifications and a proposed resolution for the Council's earliest consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me should the Council require additional information to effect this appointment.

Sincerely,
Anthony A. Williams

Enclosures
AAW/pfs

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Attachment 3

GOOD AFTERNOON, COUNCILMEMBER BRAZIL AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY. I AM RONNIE FEW, THE MAYOR'S APPOINTEE FOR CHIEF OF THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ("EMS"). FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO OFFICIALLY INTRODUCE MYSELF AND DESCRIBE MY BACKGROUND. THEN I WILL BRIEFLY DESCRIBE MY GOALS FOR THE FIRE AND EMS DEPARTMENT. 

I AM A NATIVE OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA. AFTER GRADUATING FROM THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL, I ATTENDED MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE IN ATLANTA AND EVENTUALLY GRADUATED FROM DEKALB COLLEGE WITH AN ASSOCIATES DEGREE IN FIRE SCIENCE. I AM VERY CLOSE TO RECEIVING A DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI IN ADMINISTRATION/ENGINEERING. 

I HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN PROFESSIONAL FIRE ORGANIZATIONS AND IN PURSUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT MY CAREER. ORGANIZATIONS I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH INCLUDE THE GEORGIA FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION, THE BLACK CHIEF OFFICER'S COMMITTEE, THE FIRE. . . .

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Attachment 4

Biographical information

I am a native of East Point, Georgia -- a small southern town, rooted in family and community. I attended Morris Brown College in Atlanta and graduated from Dekalb College, with a degree in Fire Science. Today, I am one semester away from a degree from the University of Cincinnati in Fire Administration and Engineering. Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a firefighter -- to serve people, serve my community and save lives.

Ironically, when I originally applied to work in the East Point fire department, my application was denied. But my dream did not die so easily. And the rejection did not quell my enthusiasm for public service. In 1972, I reapplied, was accepted and subsequently served in every position within the department. In 1993, I was named Chief of the East Point Fire Department. Four years later, I became the Fire Chief of the Augusta-Richmond County Fire Department. This appointment was pivotal to my professional development.

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Attachment 7

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001

Fax

D.C. Fire and EMS Department

FAX Number: 202-673-3188
Telephone Number: 202-673-3331

Name: Ray Sneed
Organization: Fire Fighters Association
Fax: 202-526-2986
Phone: 202-635-8500

From: Gina Douglas, Public Affairs Specialist
Date: September 11, 2000 
Subject: Chief Few's BIO
Pages: 2

Comments: See attached.

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001

September 11, 2000

Ray,

In response to Chief Few's BIO for The Capital City Firefighter, please make the following adjustments:

1. Change from - Served as Vice President for the International Association of Fire Chiefs
Change to - Served as State Vice-President for the Southeastern Division for the International Association of Fire Chiefs

2. Change from - The Fire Chief of the Year from the International Association of Firefighters
Change to - The Innovative Fire Chief of the year from the Carl Holmes Executive Development Institute

3. Add - Fire Chief Certification Committee for the International Association of Fire Chiefs

By the way, I am not familiar with The Capital City Firefighter. What is it? Will you please forward me a copy.

If additional information is needed, please call me at 673-3331.

Gina Douglas, Public Affairs Specialist 
Public Information Office

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Attachment 8

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001

MEMORANDUM

To: Lisa Bass
PIO Director

Alan Etter
PIO Officer

Gwendolyn Smith
PIO Specialist

From: Gary Garland 
Assistant Fire Chief - Services

Date: April 15, 2002

Subject: Media Response to Resume Inquiries

Effective Monday, April 15th, all staff in the PIO office is directed to use the following quote for media purposes relating to this past Friday's inquiry concerning Chief Few's resume. The PIO staff should make no additional comments or quotes outside of this statement.

Media Quote: "All inquiries and questions concerning Chief Few's education and awards background have been addressed two years ago in his confirmation hearing to the satisfaction of Council. Therefore, we have no further comments".

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we move forward. Thank you.

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Attachment 9

Debra Kilpatrick

From: Lisa Bass [lisa.bass@dc.gov
Sent: Wednesday, May 08, 2002 1:29 PM
To: debra.kilpatrick@dc.gov 
Subject: FW: DCFEMS Update -- April 10, 2002

Here's what you requested.

-----Original Message ----
From: Kellems, Margret (EOM) [mailto:Margret.Kellems@dc.gov
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 11:00 AM 
To: 'lisa.bass@dc.gov'; 'fems.inquiry@dc.gov'  
Cc: Etter, Alan (FEMS); Jones, Germonique (EOM); Smith, Gwendolyn (FEMS); Few, Ronnie (FEMS); Gang, Sharon (EOM); Bullock, Tony (EOM); Davenport, Ava Greene (EOM)
Subject: RE: DCFEMS Update -- April 10, 2002

If the assertion is that Few corrected the error regarding his award from the IAFC during his confirmation, get this off the web page NOW please, and I do mean NOW.

http://fems.dc.gov/home/fems.bio.shtm

Margret Nedelkoff Kellems, Esq.
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 327
Washington, DC 20004
tel. 727 4036 fax 727 1617

-----Original Message ----
From: Kellems, Margret (EOM)
Sent: Thursday, April 11, 2002 10:38 AM
To: 'lisa.bass@dc.gov'; 'fems.inquiry@dc.gov'
Cc: Etter, Alan (FEMS); Jones, Germonique (EOM); Smith, Gwendolyn (FEMS); Few, Ronnie (FEMS); Gang, Sharon (EOM); Bullock, Tony (EOM); Davenport, Ava Greene (EOM)
Subject: RE: DCFEMS Update -- April 10, 2002

Fahrenthold is in my reception area. It's 10:40. I have no information from you all. I will do the best I can, but to tell you the truth, I don't know what to say. I have in my hand the resume and bio from DCOP. It shows incorrect information. I have the bio you all sent over. It has different information. I have the email below saying that "information has been found to verify the previous corrections" but I don't know when the errors were discovered.

M

Margret Nedelkoff Kellems, Esq.
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 327
Washington, DC 20004
tel. 727 4036 fax 727 1617

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Attachment 10

Accomplishments achieved under the leadership of Chief Ronnie Few

  • Rebuilt burn building at training academy
  • Began building new state of the art training academy
  • Senior Fire Marshal program
  • Are You O.K.? Program
  • Over $550,000 in Grant Funds (Fire Cadet Grant, FEMA Grant, Project Impact Grant)
  • Accountability Program for Fire Personnel
  • Revamped Training (Renewed IFSAC Accreditation for training programs)
  • Initiated mandatory "Diversity" classes
  • Initiated mandatory "Customer Service" classes
  • Initiated job descriptions for sworn personnel
  • Created unified, collar brass for the entire department
  • Standardized helmet requirements `for all firefighter personnel
  • Introduced the first DCFEMS internal Fire/EMS Paramedic class
  • Issued first protective gear to all fire/EMS personnel
  • Installed new hospital alerting system
  • Installed new firehouse alerting system
  • Initiated computerized AED (Automated External Defibrillators) downloading process
  • Created the Fire Chiefs Hotel Insignia Award to recognize compliant hotels
  • Restored all five positions on all 16 ladder trucks increasing fire ground safety
  • Restored all six battalion chief s aides increasing fire ground safety
  • Hired more than 140 personnel to fill vacancies.
  • Introduced sick leave procedures to prevent abuse
  • Implemented a Capital Improvement plan to renovate firestations
  • State of the art 911 Dispatch Center now on line
  • Reduced response times to critical care calls
  • Introduced staff retreats to collectively look for solutions to agency challenges
  • Restructured Fire Prevention Division
  • Established new Emergency Medical Services Bike Team
  • Obtained back pay for uniform firefighters
  • Finalized pay increase for Communications workers

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