A Resolution By The Board Of County Commissioners Of Pasco County, Florida, Recognizing Fire Chief Scott Cassin For His Distinguished And Dedicated Service Of 13 Years To Pasco County Fire Rescue And Congratulating Him On His Retirement

1:51:45So Alex.

1:51:58Let's go go RS5. Chief Casson?

1:52:02It's your time.

1:52:14Uh Chief, I'll go ahead and read the resolution first.

1:52:17Thank you.

1:52:17Okay. Resolution number 23-203, a resolution by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, recognizing Fire Chief Scott Casson for his distinguished and dedicated service of 13 years to Pasco County Fire Rescue and congratulating him on his retirement. Whereas Chief Scott Cassen was hired on August sixteenth, twenty ten, promoted to fire chief on August twenty-eighth, twenty twelve, and has led numerous achievements throughout his thirteen-year

1:52:47career with Pasco County. And RAS Chief Kassen helped establish the new Consolidation Communications Center, Public Safety Communications, created fire rescue social media pages, implemented the first online mobile computer terminal, MCT, and provided internet access to all employees. NRAS Chief Kassin implemented the Rapid Sequence Intubation RSI Medical Advancement Program, implemented the first automatic mutual

1:53:18aid agreement with Hernando County and Fire Rescue, began the Critical Incident Stress Management Program, initiated the first Chaplainsey Ch Chaplainsey Chaplinse. Chaplainsea, thank you programme. implemented an agreement with Pasco Hernando State College to begin training classes in the training center and led Pasco County Fire Rescue to begin awarding to begin awarded the to being awarded the Mission Life EMS Gold Award. And RAS Chief Casson implemented the Special

1:53:48Operations Team, Squad One, migrated the new P twenty five compliant radio system, implemented Dobe's, the Department First Accelerated Detection Canine, to receive his badge. Implemented firehouse RMS software, approved the prototype designs of fire stations that placed emphasis on the health and safety of fire rescue personnel, and implemented shift commanders for the first time. And whereas Chief Casson implemented the first group of blue card

1:54:18certification graduates and EMS supervisors, implemented the six-week Heli Day, the Pulse Point app, and the Purvus dispatching and station alerting for station 38 to go live implemented the merger of the Zephyrhills Fire Department and successfully led the department during COVID-19. And whereas Chief Cassen created a a closed a closest unit dispatch agreement with the city of New Port Richey. I'm sorry, with the city of Port Ritchie, implemented an inspection fee

1:54:49schedule for commercial occupancies, became accredited through the Commission of Accreditation of Ambulance Services, CAAS, began social socialization of paramedic-only personnel to implement peak hour units, and offered Pasco County's first in-house fire academy for single certified paramedic candidates. And Raz, throughout his tenure with Pasco County Fire Rescue, Chief Cassin exhibited integrity, passion, and rigor for the job. He served the team members and residents of Pasco County with

1:55:19a profound approach to public safety. Safety. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said Board hereby expresses its sincere gratitude to Chief Scott Casson for the years he has devoted to protecting the lives, health, welfare, and property of the citizens of Pasco County. Done and resolved in regular session with a quorum present and voting this nineteenth day of September 2023.

1:55:42Move approval.

1:55:44Second.

1:55:45All in favor say aye.

1:55:46Aye.

1:55:47Aye. Chief, I want to say um since you came to Pasco County Uh you've done a phenomenal job. When I when I think back to years ago being a lot of volunteers that came together that we brought into the system, Chief Lapinto, what a phenomenal leader he was as well. and how you picked up and just kinda added all these programs in. And it doesn't even include Some other ones that should be in there as well. One of them that comes to mind is what there was one time we were looking at medicines and how we kind of change the way we stock the medicines so that we Didn't have them expiring, but we kinda like made sure

1:56:17they were turning over and using them to to save the taxpayers a whole bunch of money. Um so all all the things you've done, you've elevated the program. Um that key part that I think strikes all of us is the the safety for our people. Now I know when we first started talking about building new stations to upgrade our uh uh places where the people were gonna be staying, um that safety just became part of it between Marsham getting the machines washed, uh to be able to wash the machines, to be able to throw it, clean it, uh to be able to improve the exhaust

1:56:47systems, which we just got a a great grant for which I'll actually I pulled the item today just to kind of celebrate the the the troop that we made to to get that money to being recognized. The fire stations Phenomenal. We're getting recognized as being the best fire stations in the nation. The fire trucks, as you told me, we had the fire station the the ambulances all being wanted to be looked at by other people because the changes we made that the vendors wanted to take him out to these shows so they could see here's what Pasco County's doing. So for what you've

1:57:17done to elevate Pasco County, to improve the the quality of life for our our citizens, our firefighters, uh what you've done has been phenomenal. Um I think you too were too young to retire, but so be it.

1:57:29Yeah. Thank you.

1:57:33Chief is is It's been a great time working with you, working by you side. I actually tried to I think ninety five percent of uh whether it be a groundbreaking or a ribbon cutting on a fire station, I was always trying to be there. uh 'cause I appreciate the work you've done and and all the firefighters that we have in the county. Mm I respect them very much for what they do for us each and every day. And the building the stations in between other stations to cut those times, those response times down. has

1:58:03been great. the I work with you closely with uh Which now is the largest city in in Pasco County after the uh census. uh Zephyrhills when we brought those two stations in to be part of Pasco County. Uh there was a lot of concerns and a lot of worries on on those employees but when I run into them today in different areas I ask 'em how they're doing, they say things are great and they really uh fell into doing the right thing. I mean Whether you're a Zephyrhills or New Port

1:58:34Richey firefighter or whatever, when you come over in Pasco, you have the same mindset. There's nothing changed, so But those folks did a good job and they certainly appreciate being a part of Pasco County now. So they were fearful at first but they really uh said it worked out the way we told him it would and and it has so very appreciative for that happening and all the work that you've done for Pasco County in your time. So thank you. Mr. Witten.

1:59:01Thank you, Chair.

1:59:03Well

1:59:03Chief, I I don't know. Coming on board all these top lieutenants are retiring, Budget Bob, Chief Casson, the health w the what's the health m uh guy retired who Mr. Napier, uh who else am I missing? Uh Rob Marin retiring. I mean everybody's retired. No, I'm just kidding. But hey, thank you for for spending time with me. Since uh I've come on board and uh again congratulations on your retirement and hope y'all have a lot of fun and and stress free and

1:59:34uh enjoy and good good to see you again.

1:59:36Yeah, thank you. Commissioner Starkey

1:59:38Well I I didn't know Rob I didn't know he was retiring too. Not today,

1:59:42not today, but very soon.

1:59:45Uh

1:59:45we're gonna talk him out of it.

1:59:48Um Chief it's been uh a pleasure to work with you over these years. Um I just remember working with Chief Lapinto just a little bit. I so you must have come on Right when I came on. Or so um It's been a journey and you certainly have elevated our fire department to national prominence. So I appreciate that. And I know I know um we've had struggles as a fast growing county keeping up with the demands. Um Uh uh the uh challenges

2:00:18that growth put on us and I I thank you for your leadership and And uh hope that you have a wonderful retirement or whatever comes next, because here's another young one retiring with probably another career still to go. So um best of luck to you. Thank you so much.

2:00:34Mike? Yeah, just just to add on, Scott, with the the flavor of what's what's been said here, nothing really much to more to add other than just as the old saying goes, right, we stand on the shoulders of giants. And uh I can say that your your shoulders are big enough to have provided really truly a foundation for the agency going forward. So you should be proud and we we thank you for that.

2:00:52Thank

2:00:53you. All right. Well I don't have any prepared. No, I just um you know I've been up here. Many times over the years and it's hard to believe that thirteen years has gone by already. You know, I feel like I was just up here. You mentioned August twenty eighth. I forgot that day. That's actually my birthday, so that was a that was a special day back in And that you're um But you know, it's certainly an honor to be up here and I I wanted to thank each and every one of you for your support over the years. You know, every time I came up here with an item before

2:01:23the board you know, uh I can say with confidence that you all or the board voted uh unanimously, you know, in favor of whatever I brought. And that's just a testament to the the great working relationship that we have as an organization with the board and and we're very appreciative of that. And uh that's not meant to put any stress on on on Chief Perez back there moving forward. But Uh I also would be remiss if I didn't thank, you know, my my my team that that backed me up throughout all those years. You know, a bunch

2:01:53of them are here today, you know, Rob, you know, you you were my right hand for a long time, and and Brian and Ryan and and and uh Jeremy and and Justin who were my immediate uh deputy chiefs that supported me and then all the division chiefs, and there are several of them here as well. uh and their supporting staff. Um and then just as equally important, you know, the eight hundred other people that I represent. um in this organization. I I couldn't be more proud of what they've been able to accomplish, what we've been able to accomplish uh in in all those years. And I wanna thank also all

2:02:23the other county departments that I've had the opportunity to work with. The you know the county administration that was able to Have a seat at the table for about uh five years or so um working with different administrations and I wanted to you know thank you for the opportunity and and the ability to do that. Um you mentioned a lot of accomplishments. I don't know that some of that stuff when I think back it's like man that's really amazing that we were able to do all of that. I know there was a lot more and there's still a lot more to go as you mentioned, uh Commissioner Starkey, that you know this is a growing county and there's a lot of challenges that come with that. Uh but you know, we weathered

2:02:53the you know, the COVID nineteen storm um and there's I'm sure there'll be more challenges in the future, but there's a great team that that's still here behind me and I I feel confident they'll get it done. So and I I just realized that I'm the only thing standing between lunch and everybody uh enjoying that. So I am uh I'm done. I just wanna you know wish you continued success in in the future. Well

2:03:17Chief, and again I'm glad you touched on COVID. I was gonna get back to that if someone else did, but you got us through COVID. Um and prior to that, when we had the Go Bonds going on, um your leadership As you s improved us in so many different ways, led the voters to say we want to see better fire protection, better fire safety, you want to protect our firefighters. That leadership, that performance you had before led to that great success. And that's put us in a great position to protect our citizens better. So thank you for all your service. Yes, thank you so much.

2:03:47Um so we've got a big crew down there, so maybe I'm gonna stay back up here. I'll just get on and