Change at Emergency Management?

[Bob Wells]

Just saw this, did not mention any type of Emergency Management experiemce.
Walton appoints new EOC director | springs, appoints, walton - News - Northwest Florida Daily News

 

[TheZohan]

Well he's not going to be missed. Maybe we can save some tax money.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Full press release;

Walton County Sheriff's Office welcomes new Emergency Management leadership.​

On August 12, 2010 the Walton County Sheriff?s Office appointed Captain Joe Preston as the Division Chief and Director of Emergency management and Public Safety Communications. Captain Preston has over nine years experience with the Walton County Sheriff's Office and prior to that served with the Clay County Sheriff's Office in Kansas City, MO. Prior to entering law enforcement, Captain Preston spent 20 years in the corporate world with the Fairbanks Scale Company as Director of Service Operations and the Hill-Rom Company as Executive Director of Service Operations. His experience lies in managing large de-centralized operations on a national scale.
Captain Preston has experience at Walton County as a deputy, sergeant of patrol, sergeant of traffic, and most recently as Commander of the training unit. He holds various trainer/instructor certifications in topics as diverse as; firearms instruction, defensive tactics, communications, DUI instruction, traffic crash investigation, and traffic homicide investigation. In addition, he is an Adjunct Instructor for the CJSTC Basic Recruit Academy at North West Florida State College where he instruct in topics like; Line Supervision, Middle Management, Traffic Crash Investigations, Criminal Investigations, Communications, and Firearms. His diverse background brings a unique blend of business acumen and law enforcement experience to the agency.
Beginning September 9, 2010 Mr. Russell Beaty has been selected as the Manger of Emergency Management. Beaty began his career with the Pensacola Fire Department in 1983 as a firefighter/EMT. He progressed through the ranks working in the Fire Suppression, Rescue, and ARFF Branches as well as the Fleet/Facility Management and Communications Divisions.
In July of 2005 Beaty was promoted to Battalion Chief and assumed the responsibility for the Training Division and Domestic Security Section. In May of 2007 he transferred back to the suppression branch as the chief of ?B? Battalion while maintaining oversight of the Domestic Security Section.


In October of 2008 he was promoted to Deputy Fire Chief of Operations where he supervised the Suppression, Rescue, and ARFF Branches and the Domestic Security Section. Russell was appointed Fire Chief in August 2009. As the Fire Chief he also served as the city?s Emergency Management Officer.
Beaty is a member of the Florida Fire Chief?s Association, The International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Region 1 Domestic Security Task Force.
Beaty holds certifications as an EMT, fire service instructor, telecommunicator and emergency medical dispatcher. His specialties also include command and control of emergency operations, incident command and domestic preparedness.

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[idlewind]

Looks like it took two people to replace one screw-up. I am sure this is costing a fortune in salaries but if they can handle a hurricane I guess the money is well spent. You have to wonder why someone would give up being Chief of the Pensacola Fire Dept, to be 2nd fiddle in a county with half the population. Maybe FF2 can provide insight.

 

[Bob Wells]

I would venture a GUESS. He has the credentials for the position, and is retired and is feels young enough to be involved in a political job that he may not retain due to the changes that always seem to occur. I'll bet it is a good pick but I will call some of the folks I know in P'cola.

 

[TheZohan]

He will get the same pay as Barker. And they will tell you it is not costing the taxpayer nothing. Because they got a grant for so many years

 

[Andy A]

I'll say this again though I realize it is repetitious. The EOC director's job should be anything but political even though I am not naive enough to know it can be and often is.
I am interested in the disaster planning conducted and in place for the county. When was the last time a disaster drill conducted? Were personnel and organizations briefed as to what went well and what went bad when it was finished? When was the last hospital disaster drill held? Same question as above. Is there a disaster plan in place that is general in nature but can be made specific to a particular type disaster such as a hurricane. These are questions that can determine how well our county is positioned concerning disaster preparedness. It is something most don't think about until it is too late. Witness Katrina and NOLA as an example.

 

[wrobert]

Looks like it took two people to replace one screw-up. I am sure this is costing a fortune in salaries but if they can handle a hurricane I guess the money is well spent. You have to wonder why someone would give up being Chief of the Pensacola Fire Dept, to be 2nd fiddle in a county with half the population. Maybe FF2 can provide insight.

I thought they already had both of those positions.

 

[Bob Wells]

Didn't Barker perform all those jobs, so adding Beaty seems to be adding one employee, although if they do not replace Barker with another Deputy then it would appear to be a wash as for personnel.

 

[idlewind]

I thought they already had both of those positions.

Who filled the other one then and what happened to them? From my understanding of the news articles Barker was head of the division and the EM coordinator. Now Preston is chief and Beatty is coordinator. So if I have it right it took two people to replace Barker. So now the question is how they are paying for another high paying job? Did they add a position or cut somewhere else?