Fla. Agency, County Mark Milestone With Naming of First Female Fire Rescue Chief

May 12--The town of Davie has promoted a member of its fire rescue department to lead the agency: Julie Downey, who has served more than three decades in the fire service.

Downey, 55, is the first woman in the 44-year-old department's history to hold the job, and the first woman to lead a fire agency in Broward County, the town says. She was named fire chief Monday and will oversee a roster that is growing this year to 174 firefighter/paramedics.

"I'm excited and really looking forward to the challenge," said Downey, who will manage a $30 million budget.

The department responds to calls as varied as cows stuck in mud to crashes on two interstates and Florida's Turnpike; yacht fires at marinas along State Road 84 and protects what may be Broward County's largest mobile home population, which is vulnerable during hurricanes.

"Chief Downey is overwhelmingly supported and recognized for her credentials, command presence, equitable leadership style, technological advancements and interpersonal skills," Town Administrator Richard Lemack said Tuesday. Downey will earn $146,596.

Born and raised in Broward County, Downey began her career with Sunrise Fire Rescue. In her 24 years there, she was a firefighter, paramedic, driver, lieutenant and EMS shift supervisor. Davie hired her as a battalion chief in 2004.

After the unexpected death of Davie Fire Chief Joseph Montopoli in February, Deputy Chief Michael Malvasio became acting chief, until his recent retirement.

Downey was most recently Davie's assistant fire chief.

Naming a woman to lead the department is a big change. In 2012, the agency was scrutinized by the U.S. Department of Justice for having a policy that did not let pregnant firefighters work light duty until the second trimester, while men who were injured could work light duty shifts.

The town said then that it did not believe it had treated its female firefighters any differently than the men, but said it would provide the women benefits allowed under the Family Medical Leave Act and Americans with Disabilities Act.

Firefighters also sued in 2014. One said she miscarried after fighting a fire during her first trimester; another said she was ridiculed by male colleagues for using a breast pump. A third, a man, said he was retaliated against after telling federal investigators that women in the department were discriminated against and denied promotions.

The town said Wednesday that those suits have been settled.

A badge-pinning ceremony during the June 8 council meeting will formalize Downey's appointment. She said women make up about 5 percent of fire departments.

"I'd like to see more women work as firefighters across the country," she said.

Donald DiPetrillo, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Broward County, is chief of Seminole Fire Rescue and once ran Davie's fire department. He hired Downey and called her "a true professional. She's respected by other chiefs, I can tell you that."

He praised her ability to write grants and win funding for training and emergency equipment, as well as her participation with emergency medical services organizations at local, county and state levels.

"She's very involved, well-known and respected throughout the EMS community," DiPetrillo said. "She is certainly prepared to take on new challenges as a leader in the town. Twenty-four/seven, that woman is on. Everything she has done has pointed to this promotion."

Downey said a recent career highlight at Davie Fire Rescue was getting a $2.4 million federal grant to fund 12 of the new firefighter positions over the next two years.

She called training for mass casualty incidents "one of my passions," and was among town representatives at the White House in October. The federal government recognized municipalities that have provided kits for bystanders to stop severe bleeding in people who are wounded during mass shootings.

The goal of making the kits available is to try and save lives before police can disable a shooter and paramedics can tend the wounded. There are about 60 kits placed with defibrillators around Davie that are available to the public, the town said.

Lemack also praised Downey's educational credentials, which include being a registered nurse as well as earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational leadership from St. Thomas University and, from Broward College, associate degrees in fire science and emergency medical services.

A town resident, Downey is married to David Downey, fire chief for Miami-Dade County. They have two daughters.

LTrischitta@Tribune.com, 954-356-4233 or Twitter @LindaTrischitta

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