A must read: Washington Post columnist sums up DC Chief Ellerbe in two sentences

For months now, over many, many postings, I’ve been trying to adequately describe the dysfunction that is the leadership of Chief Kenneth Ellerbe of the DC Fire and EMS Department. I’ve stayed up too late writing way too many words explaining Ellerbe’s time in office and his strange priorities.

Ellerbe has made it clear his focus has been on changing the culture of the department. His two big initiatives to meet that goal have been changing out the department logo on the entire fleet of apparatus and reinstating the high school cadet program, making it the only way to become a firefighter in the Nation’s Capital.

At the same time, Chief Ellerbe failed to hire paramedics, maintain and buy apparatus, properly manage staffing or institute background checks for those already on the department. Those items only became priorities when the chief’s neglect made headlines.

But instead of pointing the finger, today I owe you an apology for my own failure. I’ve wasted your time. This became evident to me when I read this morning’s column about the state of the department by the wonderful Petula Dvorak.

Dvorak had been a Post reporter who covered the District of Columbia, including the fire department. I urge you to read her entire column which includes an interview with an old friend, former Chief Tom Tippett. It focuses on the fallout from the death of Cecil Mills.

Forget all I’ve written about the Mills tragedy or Chief Ellerbe’s management style. Dvorak only needed two sentences to clearly describe the failure of Kenneth Ellerbe during his three years in charge.

Forgive me for this spoiler, because it’s the close to Dvorak’s column and I usually hate to give away the ending. In it, Dvorak references Friday’s interview with Chief Ellerbe by reporter Amy Brittain:

Ellerbe is a detail man, popping up at firehouses in surprise inspections, insisting on protocol and scrutiny. “I am ubiquitous,” he told Brittain.

Except what he’s missing is the big picture, and that doesn’t look so good.

Yes, it doesn’t.

Read entire column by Petula Dvorak of The Washington Post