The Greenbelt News Review asked candidates running for the position of Prince George’s County Executive their stance on the staffing crisis and leadership within the Prince George’s County Fire Department. We received responses from six of the remaining 11 candidates.
Last June Fire Chief Tiffany Green reallocated 55 firefighters from stations in Prince George’s County to combat staff shortages. This included 24 career firefighters from Greenbelt Fire Station 35. Following the reassignment, the impacted communities complained of increasing response times and decreased services to their areas. What was supposed to be a temporary reallocation plan remains in effect, with Greenbelt residents and leaders continuing to express concern and frustration.
We asked the candidates, “As County Executive, would you commit to returning career staff to Greenbelt? How do you plan to address the staffing crisis in the Prince George’s County Fire Department, and do you plan to change the leadership of the department?”
Many of the candidates emphasized the need for improved recruitment efforts to enlist more firefighters and EMS personnel to help with the staffing shortage. Most candidates were non-committal on making any change to leadership until they could assess the situation for themselves, although candidate Tonya Sweat did say she would look to make a change in leadership if elected. Most said they’d work to reinstate the reallocated career firefighters.
Below are the candidates’ responses.
Aisha Braveboy
(Democrat)
As County Executive, I will review the leadership of the entire county public safety team, including the fire department. And yes, I would commit to returning career staff to Greenbelt, but all the while mindful of the current county budget crisis of $175 million and growing. In addressing the staffing crisis, we must pioneer new, better recruitment efforts, and begin to grow our next generation of career firefighters from here in the county, such as with the cadet firefighter program in our county school system.
Ron Hunt
(Democrat)
Hunt’s response was dictated over the phone and edited for length
I don’t want to say I’m changing any leadership because I have not looked at him. I have only looked at other departments, which, if I am elected, I will change, but I have not addressed the fire department. I believe there’s a reason why people were removed from different fire departments or different positions in different places. I need to know why. I know one thing for a fact – you have volunteer firefighters here, which are heroes. Then you got a lower number of firefighters that are being paid. And the question is, do we need more or less? My point is, I have to know why they let these people go. Now if they’re doing it because they’re saying it’s a budgetary problem, the budgetary problem is the people that are doing it. They have no idea of how they’re spending money. Now, I’m not a politician, nor do I want to be one. I’ve been doing business for many years, and there are certain things I don’t put up with. All the candidates are saying it’s not a popularity contest. But yeah, I’m very popular with the Black community, I am. I own the biggest nightclubs in the city for more than 30 years. What did the community want? Did the community want those firemen taken away? If they didn’t, why are they gone? Give me a good reason. And if you’re saying to me, because we can’t afford them, if they were there at one point we could afford them. So why can’t we afford them now?
George McDermott (Republican)
The Greenbelt volunteer fire department never should have been shut down. The reconstruction of the facility could’ve been done leaving the facility opened and operational. Even if it meant putting temporary trailers and living facilities on site during some of the renovations. The volunteer base and Greenbelt and all of the firehouses throughout the county is really the backbone that has protected our citizens.
The new County Executive needs to have an audit done regarding the planning cost, construction cost, relocation cost associated with the manpower reassignments. The public has a right to know, the firefighters have a right to know and especially the volunteers who started this fire station, I believe in 1947. Overall the county must do a better job of working with these volunteers and be grateful for their service.
Moisette Tonya Sweat (Democrat)
I believe a leadership change is necessary in the Fire/EMS Department. The department requires a fire chief who is committed to leading a combination system and permitting volunteer firefighters and emergency medical practitioners to augment the services provided by career personnel. While the human resources are limited, we must redistribute career first responders equally throughout the county to ensure we preserve life and property. I will also work with new leadership to improve recruiting of both career and volunteer first responders.
Alonzo Washington
(Democrat)
As County Executive, I will address the staffing crisis in the Fire/EMS Department by prioritizing the return of career firefighters to Greenbelt and other affected stations. My plan includes accelerating recruitment efforts to fill the firefighter deficit and re-evaluating resource allocation strategies to avoid overburdening personnel. My administration will be data-driven, and I will conduct a thorough review of departments countywide to ensure our public safety needs are being met.
Jonathan White
(Republican)
I am committed to reinstating career firefighters in Greenbelt and addressing the staffing challenges within Prince George’s County Fire Department (PGFD). The removal of career staff from Greenbelt and other stations has created significant service gaps, posing risks to public safety. This decision, being short-sighted, must be reversed. To resolve the staffing crisis, I will prioritize firefighter recruitment and retention by offering competitive salaries, enhanced benefits and additional hiring incentives. I will collaborate with the County Council to secure the necessary funding for increasing personnel and ensuring that PGFD is adequately staffed to meet the rising service demands. Furthermore, I will initiate a leadership review of PGFD to assess if changes are required to improve morale, efficiency and decision-making. If leadership adjustments are essential to restore trust and efficacy, I will proceed accordingly.
My objective is to reconstruct a fire department that both residents and first responders can rely on.
Early Voting
Early voting for the March 4 primary election begins on February 26.
Diya Shah and Ryan Colasanti are students at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism interning with the News Review.