Racist remarks shuttered a Delco fire company. Then county officials created a course to better train public safety leaders.
“If the community lacks faith in calling 911 and feeling respected, whether it’s police, fire or EMS, it’s everyone’s problem,” he said. The leadership course, similar to the master’s-level curriculum offered to executives in business and other fields, was tailored to fire chiefs, police officers, and public-safety officials working in Boyce’s department.
Those aspects of the job, Palus said, are not always covered in routine fire and police courses, but they are as essential to first responders as they are for people managing boardrooms. McAleer and her classmates were chosen by Boyce and Delaware County Council Chair Monica Taylor, identified for their leadership roles, or potential to become leaders in their various departments and organizations in the coming years.