WPBFD History

CHAPTER ELEVEN The Rule Book Thickens 1973 to 1980 To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often. John Henry Newman

expanded to gross proportions as Kennedy tried to cover all the bases. Any unusual occurrence that came to light would usually result in some type of written communica- tion from the chief to establish policy. Rules relating to uniforms alone covered ten pages. There were Notices, General Orders, Circulars, Administrative Memorandums, Bulletins, and Standard Operating Procedures that formed a tangled web of guidelines for all levels of the depart- ment. Some of the rules simply quoted state law. Assistant Chief Roy P. Hendrickson was promoted to the deputy chief position by Kennedy. Hendrickson

1973 Parker Avenue had recently been extended north- ward to Okeechobee Boulevard, cutting through the heart of the training facility at Howard Park. Plans were made to build a new facility, and Chief Sloan set out to find a suitable location. His search was interrupted by his re- tirement on July 1, 1973. Sloan had served the city well, adding five modern pumpers and one new station during his term as chief. One item that Sloan had requested in the 1969-70,

was a descendant of Captain H. D. Hendrickson, a steamboat captain in the West Palm Beach area in the 1890s. A dramatic rescue unfolded on No- vember 20, 1973. Gary Waldron was cleaning the inside of a 20,000 gaso- line tank in the Standard Oil Com- pany yard at 500-3rd Street when he was overcome by fumes. Three fire- men donned breathing apparatus and descended into the tank down a makeshift ladder carrying oxygen to administer to the victim. The man was lifted out of the tank using ropes and the Snorkel removed him from the top of the tank. Another old tradition was retired in the early 1970s. In the past, all "new boys" were welcomed to the depart- ment on their last day of training by performing a ritual of bravery. Sev- eral on-duty companies, including the ladder, would arrive at the drill field

1970-71, 1971-72 and 1972-73 budg- ets had not passed the final cuts of city officials. The fire department was in dire need of a new aerial truck to replace the aging 1963 Snorkel. The Commission okayed purchase of a new truck, but refused to provide additional manning for a second lad- der company. An obstinate Sloan wanted all or nothing. His most re- cent proposed budget, for the 1973- 74 fiscal year, again included a new ladder company. Even the Palm Beach Post said the request "seemed justified" in an editorial dated August 27, 1973. Sloan had retired as his proposed ladder company was re- jected once again by the commission. This decision would come back to haunt city fathers on Halloween of 1977. City Manager Richard G. Sim- mons appointed Bennett T. Kennedy to succeed Sloan as chief on July 1,

Bennett T. Kennedy, Chief 1973-81

in the afternoon. The new recruits, not being told what was coming, stood by as the veterans unfolded the life net. Instructions were given on how to hold the awkward piece of equipment. Then the drill master would climb to the lower roof of the drill tower and leap from the parapet wall into the net. After the demonstration it was time for the new recruits to show their stuff. It looked simple until they mounted the parapet wall and gazed downward at the small circle below. The wall was only fifteen feet high, but it appeared twice as high. For most the jump was made with little problem, but a few had to overcome tremendous fear be-

1973. Kennedy had served as deputy chief, second in command of the department, since his appointment on November 13, 1970. Prior to joining the fire department Kennedy had been in the military and that background formed his basic leadership style, demanding strict adher- ence to highly structured rules and regulations. Kennedy had been instrumental in writing the rules under Chief Sloan, and Kennedy’s passion for written guidelines would continue in his own administration. No tasks were too inconsequential to be left to the discretion of even a company officer. Rules had to cover every con- tingency, which of course was impossible. The S.O.P.

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