"The biggest thing I want to separate out is the difference between an investigation and a post-incident critique. Answers for the investigation are to come. We've had one answer already with the State Fire Marshals report that came out. We've been told by NIOSH it's going to be anywhere from six to eight months. Gannon Services, that we're utilizing - anywhere from one to two months from now. Everything that we've learned thus far, we're making changes. We are making a lot of positive changes. So it's hard to know the exact timeline with things like NIOSH because it takes time."
That was Apopka Fire Chief Sean Wylam responding to questions at the January 4th Apopka City Council meeting. And as it turns out, Gannon Emergency Solutions (GES) has released its report - a 45-page document titled "Draft for Client Review" obtained by The Apopka Voice in a public records request from the City.
The independent report from GES was requested and paid for by the City to evaluate the entire department. It is critical of the AFD in multiple areas, but contested in many sections by the City and AFD Staff under editor's notes.
According to its website, GES has evaluated and assisted fire departments in over 40 countries using a proven method based on a humanistic approach.
"We focus on asking questions to understand the organizational issues, assess the department against standards and best practices, and look at risk, liability, and compliance based on the project team’s expertise.
Every organization has blind spots, issues, and developmental concerns and can benefit from an outside assessment from time to time. Often, too much time is spent looking at data rather than a department as a whole. Public service jobs are driven by the people involved; commonly, it just takes a new set of eyes and some honest, open communication to foster productive change."
But by any objective standard, the report is a withering critique of the AFD.
