Chief Casey Season 1: Chicago's Newest Chief (Dawsey)

Chapter 65

Matt's POV: As we made our way into the academy's lecture hall, I smiled as I walked in and took off my jacket. Severide then did the same and I smiled as I saw him in white for the first time since his promotion. "White looks good on you man." Severide then looked at me and smiled. "Thanks Chief." I nodded and smiled. "When we are at the firehouse, I want to speak to you. Hermann, you are not coming to this meeting. I need to speak with my new Captain only." Hermann nodded and agreed. "Now, you need to make your speech good luck." I nodded and agreed. "Hermann and Severide, go sit with the candidate." Hermann nodded and agreed as they went to find Lee Henry so that they could sit together.

That's when Grissom came up behind me. "You ready and figure out what you are going to tell them?" I turned to look at him and nodded. "How about you introduce me and then I will start my speech." Grissom nodded and agreed as he went to get on the stage so that he could introduce me. "Okay, calm down Candidates. As you all know, we have started to invite all of our firehouse Chiefs to speak to your all and then observe in order to try and pick new candidates for their firehouses. Well today, we are starting with our newest and youngest chief. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Firehouse 51's newest Chief...Matthew Casey."

Everybody then clapped as I went to get up on the stage with my speech. "Thanks Commissioner." I then shook his hand before making my way to the mic. I looked at them all and smiled as I went to set my laptop down on the desk. Connecting it to the projector, I started my PowerPoint and grabbed my clicker. I then went to grab the mic and decided to use the headset. Putting it on before turning it on, I decided to look at everybody and smiled as I walked to the center of the stage, taking a deep breath....I looked at Severide and Hermann who both gave me thumbs up. I then went to start.

Matt's Speech
Good morning Candidates, my name is Chief Casey of Firehouse 51. Now, I am positive that some of you were here last year and know that I am a first year chief. It's because recently...my mentor has recently died of a heart attack. He has asked me to take over and now, I am. But, I am not here to talk and just encourage you. You candidates don't need that. You ladies and gentlemen have already made the brave choice to join the fire academy. You have already chosen to join the CFD and I am not going to tell you how great it is. You should already know that. Instead, I am going to speak about what your chief is going to expect of you. 

(1: NEVER BE LATE) First things first, it is unacceptable to be late as a Candidate. You are always to be on time. Now sure, you may say...what's the harm with being a minute late to shift? Well then let me ask you this question. What's the harm with being a minute late to a fire? In that minute, you can save lives. You being on scene can save lives. If you're late and miss your truck or engine or squad truck...that's one less firefighter I have on scene to help me. To help me save lives and get people to the hospital instead of them dying in a fire. 

(2: NO QUESTIONS) Second thing, a candidate doesn't ask questions. As a candidate, you are with the firehouse to learn. And to be tested. As a candidate, your job isn't secure until you have finished your year. No captain, lieutenant or chief will want you in the firehouse if you are going to question their instructions. The correct answer to everything you are told to do is yes. However, if you genuinely have questions...you speak to your supervisor prior to going into a fire. When we are on scene, we expect you all to know what to do. And to be able to understand what you are to do when you are on our hips.

(3: ON OUR HIP) Third thing, when we say on our hip...we mean on our hip. When you are entering into a fire, you do not ever go alone. Nor do you wander and go speak to the crowd. As a candidate, we rely on you to help us in our duties. And of course to feed us. (Laughs) But most importantly, you are to always stay on our sides. Until you know what you are like in a fire, you do not have permission to be on your own. I do not need my captains worrying about what their candidates are doing and how they are reacting to being in a fire. The citizens of Chicago rely on us to save them.

(4: CHICAGOANS) And about the citizens of Chicago. This is the Fire Academy. If you wanted to judge people, then you at the wrong academy and going into the wrong profession. As a firefighter, you do not get to question someone's stupidity. And believe me, we see a lot of stupid people in the streets of Chicago, doing really stupid things that cause fires. (Laughs) However, when you are on the scene of a fire...you are there to save people not to judge them. I do not want to hear any noise over the radio about dumb things. And we always listen to our radios.

(5: RADIO ETIQUETTE) Radio communications are critical to our profession. It is where you get all of your instructions. This is why there is also etiquette when you are speaking on radio. At no point do I want to hear my candidate talking to my officers or other firefighters in a manor that would cause people to get distracted. If I hear you do that while I am on scene, I will definitely not be afraid to yell at you over the radio for the entire scene to hear. However, one thing I can tell you is not to make a mistake I made. Never say goodbye to your paramedic wife on scene.

Severide and Hermann both laughed when I said that because they remember when I did that.

(6: RELATIONSHIPS) And when it comes to personal relationships in the firehouse. People say that it's unacceptable. However, it's also inevitable. When you are working so closely with other people 24 hours a day for a few days a week, it's easy to fall in love with someone. Just ask my wife and 3 kids. So, if you work for me...I don't want you to worry about that. However, you need to make sure that you concentrate on the people of Chicago when you are on scene. For all I care, as long as your are professional and good on scene, what you do at the firehouse is okay.

(7: FRIENDSHIPS) However, when it comes to friendships in the firehouse...we need to keep the cool. Having learned this the hard way, a bad fight with a friend cannot come in between you and your co-worker friend when on duty. You and your friend may work together and may even be on the same vehicle. While on a scene, I don't care if your friend slept with your girlfriend or boyfriend. On my fire scene, you are there to protect each other. If I find that you are being unproductive or are putting other lives at risk, you will be sidelined for the day or week.

(8: THE VEHICLES AND CREWS) Okay, now that we have those 7 things out of the way...I am going to talk to you about information that is important to remember. You may have already learned this but, I am going to give you information on my firehouse. At my firehouse, we have 4 vehicles. We have Ambulance 51, Squad 3, Engine 51 and Truck 81. In fact. How about I ask my Captains to come down so I can introduce you to the people who are partly in charge of the vehicles? 

Looking at them, Severide and Hermann nodded as they got up and then made their way to the stage to join me in continuing with my presentation and later, the questions.

(9: SQUAD 3) To my right here, is my new Squad Captain Kelly Severide. His vehicle is responsible with all rescues we respond to. So, if you are a really good swimmer and are okay with diving into Lake Michigan...then you should go onto squad. Severide, you have anything to say or am I all good to continue?

Severide shook his head and I just continued to speak about the other vehicles at the House.

(10: TRUCK 81 AND ENGINE 51) To my left here is Captain Christopher Hermann. His vehicles are responsible for responding to all fires. Yes, I said Vehicles. While on scene, you are to respond to either of these two gentlemen as well as me. And you are also to listen to all other non-candidate firefighters until you are a full firefighter.

(11: QUESTIONS) Now, that is the end of my presentation about myself, what you are expected to do as a firefighter and how you are to act as a firefighter. Now, we have a bit of time for questions. So, I am going to ask your instructors to gather questions and provide them to us. 

All the candidates nodded and went to go speak to their instructors to give them questions. Meanwhile, I walked over to Hermann and Severide to speak to them in private. 

"How was that so far?" Severide looked at me and smiled. "Matt, that is great so far. You prepared all this already?" I nodded and agreed. "Wanted to impress. Now listen, I am going to take off this headset and grab us some microphones. Let's finish this and then we can head to the firehouse okay? We need to get to work." Severide and Hermann both nodded. "Oh and I am going to make the announcement Captain Severide." Severide laughed and agreed as we got ready to answer some questions for the candidates before heading back to the firehouse.