Retiring Orange Fire Chief Sean deMetropolis gave his final address to the Orange City Council at its’ regular meeting Tuesday night. Chief deMetropolis used the opportunity to give the City Council some advice many believe they needed to hear.
A formal or informal “exit interview” of a 30 year city employee would seem like an obvious exercise for elected officials of a city with financial and other issues. But, as deMetropolis forcefully and professionally pointed out, “as the department head with the most time and the most tenure, I’ve seen first hand the strain that has been placed on the people who are doing everything they can to keep the city moving forward. These challenges are real, but they are also correctible. They require listening and collaboration, and trust in the professionals who serve you.”
The Chief went on to share that his disappointment in the Mayor and Council Members, “To be honest with you, I need to share something that weighs heavy on me as I depart. As my tenure draws close, not one of you reached out. There was no phone call, there was no phone call to ask my perspective, no meeting to seek insight of the man who has given 3 decades to these streets, and no conversation about the future of the department I’ve built. That silence was more than just disappointing, it was a missed opportunity for the city. It reflects a troubling pattern I’ve witnessed over the last 2 years. A disconnect between the dais and the leaders in the trenches. I don’t say this out of ego and I hold no grudge. I say this as a warning. Please look out for your leaders, they are the backbone of Orange, and they deserve more than your directives. They deserve your engagement, your trust, and respect.”
Council members remained mostly silent after the speech, although Council Members Barrios and Gutierrez expressed regret for not having reached out to the Chief. Council Member John Dumitru seemingly attempted to praise the Chief by declaring his belief that deMetropolis was probably the second best Chief in Orange history. One has to wonder if Dumitru might be the Chiefs pick for 6th best current Council Member.
