I am writing regarding the candidacy of Bruce Philpott in his bid for a seat on the Glendale City Council. Philpott consistently claims to be interested in public safety.
Unfortunately, his previous message to the City Council regarding the staffing of the Glendale Fire Department seems to have disappeared with his candidacy. He often presents himself as a public safety candidate; however, he has consistently been disavowed by most reputable members of the public safety community. If, in fact, Philpott is interested in public safety, his approach to public safety would be to enhance it in some fashion rather than to tear it down.
I was born and raised in Glendale and spent my entire public service career in Glendale, where I continue to serve after retirement. The Glendale Fire Department 40 years ago was pretty much the same as it is now in size; however, it is now far superior in service. There were nine fire stations in 1972, with 52 people on duty protecting a population of 120,000 people. Today, the department still has nine fire stations with 60 people on duty protecting a population of 220,000, running many times the number of emergency calls. The department has maintained a level of service unmatched in the area through innovation, economy and the dedication of its personnel. The department in the 1970s was the lowest paid department of comparable size in the country. In the late 1970s, the City Council recognized the effect of this and began to maintain the salaries at an average level for the area and surrounding departments, where they are today.
