Nov. 16--A day after announcing his resignation, Fire Chief Terry Garrison on Friday said he can think of at least three or four people within the Houston Fire Department who could fill his boots.
Originally expected to remain chief for at least another two years, Garrison, 56, is stepping down to return to his family in Phoenix to help with the care of his ailing 20-month-old grandson. He said he will stay on until Mayor Annise Parker chooses his replacement, a process in which Garrison will play a role.
"That was a big deal for the mayor to ask me to stay and participate," he told reporters at a news conference. "She would like to hire someone from the inside."
Garrison said he planned to meet with Parker's staff later in the day to discuss the application process. He said he does not believe more than 10 to 12 candidates would be considered for the job. He also said he hoped someone will be in place by Jan. 1.
"I know three of four people (in the department) right now that would make great fire chiefs for this city, and I would like to see their names in, and we'll see how that goes," he said. He declined to identify any potential candidates.
Parker on Thursday said she intends to hire a new fire chief who will continue the initiatives and progress Garrison has made and believes she can find that person within the department. She was unavailable for comment Friday.
"I think she sees that these are the same people that will embrace change," Garrison said. "Before, I don't know if she really felt comfortable that there were change agents in the organization."
Parker selected Garrison as Houston's fire chief in 2010, saying "it was really time for a fresh approach, for new eyes and an outside perspective."
Diverse staff
The former chief, Phil Boriskie, resigned earlier that year after what Parker characterized as mishandling of an investigation into the treatment of two women firefighters.
Along with reducing the department's operating budget by $5 million and providing quarterly management and financial reports, Parker also credited Garrison with assembling the most diverse command staff in the department's history.
"We needed to kind of change the way we treated each other, to make that a high priority for us," Garrison said.
He said that under his leadership, an "accountability manual" was written by Houston firefighters that included standards for how they would treat each other and the public.
"We wanted the public to look at us and be proud of their fire department," he said.
In addition to increasing diversity and improving the department's overall culture, Garrison said he is proud of the improvements made to ensure firefighter safety, as well as implementing programs to increase tracking calls and reduce emergency response times.
'Can't walk away'
Even after his departure, Garrison said he will continue to play an active role in the investigation of a blaze that killed four firefighters on May 31, the department's deadliest day ever.
"That was one of my biggest issues right there," he said. "Whenever you lose a firefighter, you can't walk away from that and feel good about yourself."
One thing he would have done differently, he said, involved the 2011 day care fire that killed four toddlers, when the operator left a pan of hot oil on a stove. Jessica Tata, the day care operator, was convicted last year in the death of one of the toddlers. Only days after the fire, Tata, who was not at first a suspect in the case, fled the country.
"If I did that again, I'd definitely capture her sooner, at least sequester her," he said. "Not because of any problems it caused me, but the problems that it caused those (victims') families."
May become teacher
The father of four began his firefighting career in 1977 with the Phoenix Fire Department, rising to assistant chief before leaving in 2007. Garrison served as fire chief for a small community in California from 2007 to 2009 and then served a brief stint as interim chief of a small department near Phoenix.
Originally, Garrison said his wife planned to move to Houston from Phoenix, even applying for a job at Wells Fargo. However, when she learned of their grandson Jack's condition, she decide to stay back to tend to her family. Garrison said Jack is afflicted by a feeding disorder, causing a "failure to thrive." He said the toddler weighs only about 19 pounds and is fed through a tube in his stomach.
While Garrison hopes to continue working in Phoenix, he said he is leaning toward teaching or consulting jobs that would allow him to work from home and focus on Jack and his family.
"I made a commitment to the mayor that I would be here for five years, and I feel bad about that," he said. "At the end of the day, family is most important."
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