The Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Officers Association proudly recognizes Deputy Chief Robert Nelson upon his retirement following 33½ years of distinguished service to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Chief Nelson’s career has been defined by operational leadership, specialized expertise, organizational service and an unwavering commitment to advancing the interests of the men and women of the LAFD.

His extensive career included leadership of the Department’s Arson/Counter-Terrorism Section and ultimately executive-level responsibility for Homeland Security and emergency preparedness. His responsibilities included disaster preparedness, CERT, Emergency Operations Center and Department Operations Center functions, Tactical EMS, grants management, and specialized CBRNE and Joint Hazard Assessment Team programs. He also brought decades of hazardous-materials experience and extensive involvement in complex, multi-agency and high-consequence incidents.

Chief Nelson promoted to Assistant Chief in 2017 and ultimately to Deputy Chief, completing more than three decades of increasingly responsible leadership within the Department.

His contribution, however, extended well beyond his Department assignments.

As President of the Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Officers Association, Chief Nelson dedicated considerable time and energy to representing the interests of the Department’s Chief Officers. His leadership included advocacy involving wages, benefits and working conditions, labor-management issues, and representation of the Association during important negotiations affecting its membership.

His service to COA represents an important part of his legacy: Chief Officers taking care of Chief Officers and strengthening the organization for those who follow.

The Chief Officers Association congratulates Deputy Chief Robert Nelson on an extraordinary 33½-year career and extends our sincere gratitude for his leadership, advocacy, institutional knowledge and decades of service.

Chief Nelson, congratulations on your retirement and thank you for everything you have given to the LAFD, the Chief Officers Association and the City of Los Angeles.

 

 

 

 

 

2023 COA Holiday Message  

July 2017 – Retired Assistant Chief Bill Bisson is ailing in health. His family is requesting visitors. For more information please contact Pat Butler at: [email protected]

July 2017 – The Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Board is going to vote on a motion  July 6, 2017, to increase the retired sworn non-medicare health subsidy to 7% which is more realistic given the current cost of medical care.

July 2017 – In an unforeseen last minute change of decision from the Mayoral appointed pension commissioners – the LAFPP Pension Board  voted 5 to 4 to adopt a 6% increase to the retired sworn non-medicare health subsidy, which is below the standard of inflation of medical costs. The COA will be monitoring closely this disappointing decision by the Mayor’s appointed commissioners. We are proud of the 4 elected Fire and Police Commissioners who took a stance to protect our benefits.

July 2017 – Captains Al Ruiz and David Reddix were promoted to Battalion Chief – we welcome them to COA

July 2017 – The COA Executive Board unanimously endorsed Maria Elena Durazo for State Senate District 24.  As many of you may know, Maria Elena has always been a strong supporter of firefighters and a driving force for labor negotiations in Los Angeles, which has clearly benefited COA in our pursuit of wages, benefits and working conditions. Maria Elena is currently running unopposed and she is proud to have our endorsement.  SD24 is one of the few state districts that has almost 90% of its district within the City limits. The 24th Senate District includes the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, El Sereno, Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, Mt. Washington, Cypress Park, Lincoln Heights, Atwater Village, Elysian Valley, Arlington Heights, Echo Park, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Thai Town, Larchmont, Koreatown, Pico-Union, Westlake-MacArthur Park, Historic Filipinotown, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Arts District, Civic Center, City Terrace, and East Los Angeles.