San Antonio Express-News
(TNS)
In one of her first interviews before she takes the helm, interim Deputy Fire Chief Valerie Frausto outlines a bold new vision for the San Antonio Fire Department, where she said she hopes to listen to rank-and-file concerns, improve morale and build up communication.
Frausto, a 24-year-old veteran of the department, was named the head of the fire department this week, replacing former Chief Charles Hood — who was forced out in January after officials discovered he made a series of vulgar comments about women.
Frausto, the department's first female chief, was chosen out of 65 internal and external applicants, city leaders said.
Her first day will be Nov. 1, after City Council votes on her appointment. She said she's eager to get started.
"I'm already squirming in my seat," said Frausto, 51. "We're already an excellent department. I think we just need to build upon the strong foundation that we have."
Frausto joined SAFD as a front-line firefighter in 2000 and quickly climbed the ranks. She's worked in almost every division in the department, serving as lieutenant, captain, battalion chief and assistant chief. She was the department's fire marshal before she was tapped to serve as an interim deputy chief earlier this year, following Hood's resignation.
Hood opted to retire instead of facing the possibility of being fired. He admitted using a phrase on multiple occasions that included a crass word for a vagina: "P— always wins."
Long before those incidents, Hood faced allegations that he'd made insensitive remarks about Native Americans and white people.
City Manager Erik Walsh said he remembers meeting Frausto for the first time around 2017, after she was appointed to the rank of assistant chief for support services. He was instantly impressed.
"She's worked in literally every part of this department, except arson," Walsh said. "What struck me about her was her air of confidence ... Valerie has continued to demonstrate that same level of confidence, thoughtfulness, resolve and decisiveness."
Deputy City Manager María Villagómez said she has been impressed by Frausto's ability to handle a variety of complicated issues over the past 10 months, including helping address sick leave during negotiations for a new contract with the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association.
Villagómez said Frausto was also instrumental, alongside Interim Chief Christopher Monestier, in helping tackle the high cost of overtime for the department.
"Chris and Valerie worked on that policy that we sent to the field, effective October 1," Villagómez said. "It's a change in how we do things. And Valerie has been instrumental in doing that."
'A calling'
Growing up on the Southeast Side of San Antonio, Frausto was always interested in firefighting. Her uncle, among other family members, served as firefighters in the department.
But after graduating from Incarnate Word High School, Frausto wasn't sure she had what it takes "physically to be able to do the job." She decided to pursue the medical field instead.
Then, one day, she was at the mall when she ran into a female recruiter for SAFD. She realized you didn't have to be big or tough to become a firefighter. She decided to give it a go. She was 25 years old.
She still remembers her first few calls after graduating from the academy, including a house fire.
"It was kind of scary," Frausto recalled. "I could hear my mother's voice: 'Why in the world do you want to be a firefighter?' But it was exactly what I had trained to do, and I just trusted in my training. I knew what I was doing. It felt like a calling."
After five years, she decided to attend the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio to become a paramedic, allowing her to administer more advanced care than an EMT. Paramedics, for example, are allowed to start an IV and administer drugs, a task EMTs cannot.
Frausto was always ready for the next step. She spent three years in the EMS division before promoting to lieutenant, and seven years in the firefighting division, holding the ranks of lieutenant, captain and battalion chief.
"I grew in every assignment or position," Frausto said. "I worked various areas of town, really every area of San Antonio. I just knew that I wanted to advance to the next level, always up for the next challenge."
The fire department's workforce is overwhelmingly male. In 2020, 89 of the department's 1,757 firefighters and emergency medical technicians — or 5.1 percent — were women.
As a chief, Frausto was instrumental in helping launch the department's Hero Like Her recruiting campaign, which aims to recruit young women to pursue historically male-dominated fields, such as firefighting.
"She was instrumental in that initiative," Villagómez said. "I was very impressed when I heard Valerie talk about the program. She's passionate about giving that opportunity other young women."
'Culture change'
The San Antonio Fire Department has faced a host of challenges and tragedies over the past decade.
In 2014, the city's collective bargaining agreement with the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association expired, launching a bitter six-year fight for a new contract.
In 2017, Firefighter Scott Deem was killed and two other firefighters were injured in massive blaze at a Northwest Side strip mall. State and federal investigations into the fire found that firefighters didn't follow nationally-recognized best practices or even the department's own policies. One report said the department needed a "culture change."
Another firefighter, Greg Garza, died in October 2019 after he was hit by a van while responding to a call downtown.
The city entered an agreement with the fire union in 2020, which improved morale.
But then, the COVID-19 pandemic rocked the department.
Around that same time, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission began investigating three separate claims of sex discrimination and retaliation after a battalion chief made inappropriate comments about women.
Hood also posed for a photo while eating sushi displayed on a mostly nude woman at a firefighter's birthday party, prompting concerns amongst his employees.
Frausto said she understands that many rank-and-file are struggling. Starting day one, she plans to visit substations around the city and meet with employees across divisions in an effort to hear concerns.
"I plan to listen to what their issues are, and make sure that they have the training, the resources and the support that they need," Frausto said. "It's really up to us to provide those to them."
She said she thinks she's specially suited for the task, given her background working in almost every division. She said she has a strong relationship with the rank-and-file.
"Over the years, I think the field has put some trust in me," Frausto said. "I trust and respect them for what they do. I think that goes a long way, especially in public safety. It's a team effort ... It's important that we work together and trust each other."
Joe Arrington, a public information officer for the department, said having an internal candidate take the helm is "really huge" for morale.
"It's validation that our hard work, our dedication, our values are reflected in her," Arrington said. "It's validation that one of our own who we've made runs with, who we've lost sleep with, who we shed tears with, is now our boss. There's a buzz."
Asked about her command staff — many of whom worked alongside Hood — Frausto said she plans to lead by example.
"I think it all comes down to leadership... " she said. "There won't be any tolerance for any sort of harassment ... Overall, I think we've been doing our job and doing it well. It's just a matter of making those small changes that are going to make huge improvements."
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