TACOMA, Wash — After more than 30 years with the Tacoma Fire Department, and five years leading it, Chief Tory Green has retired.
Green said he plans to spend time working on his farm and will likely get a different job in the future. But for now, he is sharing his hopes for the department and the challenges facing it.
Green spent 31 years with the Tacoma Fire Department, starting at 23 years old after getting out of the U.S. Navy.
“It's a little surreal. I've been with the fire department longer than I haven't,” said Green.
He never imagined becoming the department's top boss. “I never thought I would be, I never wanted to be,” he laughed.
But Green said he is grateful for his role and the department. He is an advocate for mental health resources for first responders and made a video with others in the department a couple years ago to try to break the stigma of firefighters seeking help.
“A lot of people have reached out and said, you know, this saved my life or I wish my spouse had seen this before something bad happened,” said Green.
Through the years he saw a shift in the work, he said the nature of the job has changed.
“80% of what we do now is emergency medical response,” said Green. “So what was once a side thing has become the primary part of our work.”
The department has seen an increase in call volumes that has increased response times. Some of those calls are for people experiencing substance use disorder and mental health issues.
He said it is imperative that homelessness and drug use are addressed in their community.
“If those things don't get addressed more appropriately. the system is at the breaking point,” said Green. “You can't just keep throwing firefighters at the problem. You have to actually begin to address the root of the problem.”
To help address behavioral health issues, the department launched programs such as the HOPE program and TFD Cares.
“As the community's needs evolve, I think the fire department needs to evolve with it,” said Green.
Assistant Chief Sionna Stallings-Alailima has been selected as the interim chief to fill Green's spot. Green said she is the right person for the job due to her competency and relationships with the community.
Green said he leaves with gratitude for his department.
“I'm incredibly grateful that I got to work for such a great group of people,” said Green.
He also leaves with a message he would give to his 23-year-old self: “Take better care of yourself, slow down," he said, "and enjoy the ride."