Commission hears plan for new Chief of Health, Safety and Wellness role

Deputy Chief Jose Valle presented details about a new health, safety and wellness position included in this year’s budget. The department requested an assistant deputy chief originally, Valle said, but the approved budget provides a battalion chief slot to oversee a behavioral health unit, peer support teams and a renewed health‑check program.

"This chief will work with the doctor on measures that relate to firefighter health and wellness," Valle said, adding that the role will focus on cancer prevention and mental‑health initiatives and will collaborate with peer support and medical staff. Commissioners asked whether the position will be filled from within and what ranks may apply; staff said the role will be promoted from within and the department expects to allow eligible battalion chiefs, captains and possibly lieutenants to apply.

Commissioners pressed for trend reporting and better injury/stress reporting: one commissioner said the work‑comp claim count for stress (three in the packet) looks implausibly low and urged year‑over‑year comparisons and confidential trend statistics that do not breach privacy. The administration said workers‑comp claims differ from peer‑support usage and agreed to provide comparative trend data in future packets.

No hire was made at the meeting; commissioners requested a job description, recruitment timeline once budget funds are available (mid‑August expected) and regular comparative reporting on health metrics.