WHEREAS, In Washington state, we are always thankful for leaders who bring communities together to form a brighter and more hopeful Washington; and

WHEREAS, Steve Brooks began his career in emergency medical service as a critical care flight paramedic spending 11 years in the Fire Service in Tennessee before he and his wife Lee moved to Lacey, Washington in 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was selected to serve as the Emergency Medical Service Officer of Thurston County Fire Protection District 3, Lacey (commonly referred to as Lacey Fire District 3) in 2005 before being promoted to Fire Chief in 2012; and

WHEREAS, He was elected President of the Thurston County Fire Chiefs in 2013; and

WHEREAS, He served as Operations Board Member for three key Thurston County emergency services partners: Thurston County Special Operations Rescue Team (SORT), Thurston County 911, and Thurston County Medic One; and

WHEREAS, He built productive and constructive relationships resulting in numerous policy updates and joint ventures within the fire and emergency medical service areas; and

WHEREAS, His positive attitude spread from the Lacey Fire District 3 to the City of Lacey and throughout Thurston County. This cooperative and collaborative leadership style set a new standard for interagency cooperation; and

WHEREAS, He received the Distinguished Leader Award by the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce in 2017 for his work in the larger Thurston County Community; and

WHEREAS, He was elected and served as the Washington Fire Chiefs Legislative Committee Chair from 2019 to 2022; and

WHEREAS, He represented the Washington Fire Chiefs in the Western Region Fire Chiefs Association from 2020 to 2022; and

WHEREAS, His leadership and personal example helped lead Lacey Fire District 3 through the COVID-19 Pandemic, helping fire service agencies across the state navigate one of the most difficult periods in recent history; and

WHEREAS, He was elected and served as the Washington Fire Chiefs President from 2022 to 2024; and

WHEREAS, He played an instrumental role in advocating for firefighter issues, including legislative testimony and the development of a Washington Fallen Firefighter Memorial; and

WHEREAS, His vision and leadership helped create the South Sound Fire Fighter Academy, a collaborative effort with multiple South Sound Fire Districts and Departments, to train firefighters across Thurston County; and

WHEREAS, His fiscal management enabled the district's balanced growth to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community while improving the District's fire protecting rating for the unincorporated areas; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure as Fire Chief, the District received zero findings in all financial and accountability audits performed by the Washington State Auditor's Office; and

WHEREAS, As Fire Chief, the District successfully came to terms on five collective bargaining agreements ahead of deadline and without mediation; and

WHEREAS, His leadership helped bring about a holistic approach to personnel well-being, achieving advancements in firefighter health and safety, and establishing a model for labor management relations across the state; and

WHEREAS, He is known for his inspirational leadership and unwavering commitment to public safety initiatives and the betterment of fire service leaders across Washington; and

WHEREAS, He is set to retire in March 2025 and is widely recognized for initiating a whole new culture of service and outreach at Lacey Fire District 3; and

WHEREAS, Steve Brooks is a leader whose thoughtfulness, dedication, and shared commitment to community safety are truly noteworthy and deserve widespread public recognition;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate recognize and honor Steve Brooks' contributions to the Washington Fire Service and Emergency Medical Services for the past two decades. Steve Brooks is the ideal public servant, and his character is an example for future leaders to emulate.