POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — “With great reluctance and a heavy heart and in protest, I submit my resignation,” reads the beginning of a three-page resignation letter from Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Hezedean Smith.
Smith, who was hired as chief in November 2022 and made $168,096 annually, was Polk County Fire Rescue’s first Black chief.
He wrote in his letter that his position in the role of chief had become “untenable” and that “racial animus” had plagued his leadership.
He listed 31 accomplishments during his tenure, including managing a $140 million budget, reducing vacancy rates, and updating equipment and fleet.
Threat to shoot teacher, bring bomb to Newsome High School prompted ‘lockout,’ deputies say His resignation comes days after the final report of a review of management at Polk County Fire Rescue became public.
“I think we have a management problem in our fire department,” said county commissioner Bill Braswell at a January board meeting .
Braswell called for an outside review of the department after a dispute over overtime pay during Hurricane Idalia’s response.
The review, conducted by Tallahassee-based consulting firm Allen, Norton & Blue, found Chief Smith had instituted some positive changes during his tenure, including recognizing crews for reviving patients in distress.
The consultants’ findings also raised concerns about the department, including allegations of low morale, uneven discipline, inappropriate comments by managers, and poor communication with firefighters in the field.
The report did not recommend any specific actions, leaving that to county managers.
Chief Smith’s resignation took the decision out of their hands.
‘Trying to incite somebody’: Large groups of bicyclists take over Tampa roads “The entire process, driven by external agents and local decision-makers, appears to have been a witch hunt orchestrated to ruin my career,” said Smith in the letter.
His retirement is effective Sept. 30 with a two-week administrative leave preceding it.
“I take the challenges and frustrations expressed by members of our fire rescue division to heart and want to assure our employees that Polk County wants to create a high-performing, highly valued culture within the Fire Rescue operation,” said county manager Bill Beasley in a statement. “Our focus is to immediately consider necessary changes to achieve that goal.”
The county’s communications director said no one from the county would be able to speak due to this “personnel issue that could potentially be litigated.”
Attempts to interview several county commissioners either went unanswered or the commissioner was not available to speak.
Chief Smith said in an email he could not speak at this time.
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