The Fire Chief Fired Over a Fourth of July Parade
A political power struggle ends the tenure of Tacoma's fire chief after he defied the Mayor's orders to march in the holiday parade.
John L. Dietsch has resigned as chief of the Tacoma fire department, a resignation submitted to Mayor Wright on July 6. While Dietsch refused to comment publicly, reports indicate the resignation followed a confrontation regarding the Fourth of July celebration. The Mayor had ordered the fire department to make an exhibition run during the holiday, but Chief Dietsch refused, citing the danger of leaving the station unattended. It is further reported that the chief's resignation is part of a pre-arranged plan to install George McAlevy as chief once he met residency requirements. Mayor Wright confirmed the change was part of a campaign arrangement and that McAlevy would take the top spot while Dietsch would be demoted to a subordinate position.
“Chief Dietsch gave as his reason for not making the run that it was unwise to take the department away from headquarters on a day when there was so much danger from fire.”
This story highlights the historic entanglement of local professional departments with political patronage, where administrative positions were often used as bargaining chips for mayoral allies.
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