HOUSTON – Chief Phil Boriskie has stepped down as head of the Houston Fire Department.
"The time has come for me to step aside as chief, and I will return to the station that I love and continue to serve this department and this city," Boriskie said.
The announcement was made at special press conference held Tuesday morning.
Rumors of the chief’s impending resignation began swirling over the weekend, after the mayor publicly criticized how the department handled the latest development in a well-publicized vandalism incident at a Houston fire station.
One of the female firefighters who reported finding sexist and racist graffiti scrawled on her locker returned to work, but broke down in tears when confronted with a letter written by her fellow firefighters suggesting she might have written the graffiti herself.
During a sometimes emotional speech that lasted roughly 10 minutes, Boriskie detailed some of the accomplishments the department has made under his tenure, including more training, better equipment, improved response times and a 37-percent decline in firefighter injuries.
Boriskie, who was appointed to fire chief by former Mayor Bill White and confirmed by Houston City Council on May 26, 2004, said though he never applied for the job, it was the "honor of his life" to be selected.
"If I reflect back over these last six years, the first five years – over five years – it was really a pretty smooth ride. We had a lot of successes within this department. The last six months? What can I say? Wow," Boriskie said.
Alluding to the ongoing racism and sexism allegations levied against HFD, Boriskie admitted that it’s impossible to lead a large organization without controversy, but said HFD struggles with competing agendas.
"I’ll tell you, I can say this with a clear heart. I have attempted to lead in these struggles in a way I firmly believe is right. However, and this is important, I am adamant that political and personal agendas are detrimental to this department. I will say with conviction that the Houston Fire Department will prevail from attacks, from critics who do not know all the facts," he said.
Boriskie’s announcement came weeks after the swearing-in ceremony of Houston’s new mayor, who made the recruitment of female firefighters a major issue during the campaign.
"We are becoming more diverse racially and ethnically but we still lag seriously in the number of women," stated Mayor Annise Parker, who has already tapped assistant chief Rick Flanagan to serve as acting fire chief.
Parker said the decision to replace the chief was mutual, but the timing was entirely up to Boriskie.
Parker said she looked forward to being able to start new with a clean slate.
Acting Fire Chief Flanagan said he intended to do his part to help. "We want to make sure that we serve with honor and that we have respect for every single member of this department," said Flanagan.
Parker said Flanagan will be considered for the job.
In a statement released to 11 News, Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association President Jeff Caynon said Boriskie, a 26-year veteran of the department, is regarded as one of the best chiefs in HFD’s history.
Caynon said despite professional differences, Houston firefighters generally respect Boriskie and his good intentions.
"The truth is, Chief Boriskie was a victim of his good nature and management style, both of which left him vulnerable to political attack. For the past year, the opportunist politicians, extremist activists and disgruntled city employees who recklessly stereotyped local firefighters also treated the chief despicably," Caynon said.
Caynon said the HPFFA is committed to improving workplace and labor conditions for local firefighters and is looking forward to advising city officials on selecting Boriskie’s successor.
HFD District Chief David Elliot said, in the meantime, the department's work will go on as usual.
"We’re real good at what we do. Whatever politics goes down up here, if they get a new fire chief, whoever it is – that’s politics. We’re still going to handle our business in the streets," Elliot said.
Near the end of his speech, Boriskie spoke directly to his fellow firefighters.
"This journey has touched my heart in ways I will never be able to articulate," Boriskie said, holding back tears. "In difficult times we stood side by side—at funerals, in hospitals and on the emergency scene. And we supported each other like no other."
He asked that firefighters keep those who’ve paid the ultimate sacrifice and those who bear the physical and emotional scars of the job in their prayers.
"It has been a privilege to be your fire chief, but it’s going to be a greater privilege to work by your side, as a firefighter on the emergency scene. As always, I ask y’all to stay safe," Boriskie said.
