The Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue Department, is a full-service emergency response agency serving the City of Pembroke Pines, Florida—a diverse, rapidly growing suburb in southern Broward County with a population of approximately 170,000 residents. Headquartered at 9500 Pines Boulevard, Building B, the department is dedicated to preserving life, property, and the environment through a comprehensive range of fire, rescue, and medical services. It operates under the city’s municipal government and emphasizes community education, rapid response, and proactive safety measures in a region prone to hurricanes, flooding, and urban hazards.
Great department with a great staff led by a lousy Chief. He is a menace. Vindictive and emotionally reactive. His own administrative staff disproves of him but won’t speak out due to fear of retaliation. He is indecisive and irrational. A micromanager that doesn’t trust people to do their jobs. He claims he’s cares about the greater good of the department but really only cares about the way he is perceived. He is the type of person that should never have been given a position of power. He bulldozes conversations in which he believes to be right, feels the need to raise his voice to get his point across. Such a shame.
I’ve been waiting a long time to say this, so here it is.
Do not come here expecting a family atmosphere. Administration rules with an iron fist, and compliance is the currency. Promotions, assignments, and career survival all depend on playing ball. Any attempt to band together or push back gets shut down quickly—and they get away with it because “snitching” is openly rewarded. It’s a near-perfect system when you and your so-called competition are all on the same promotional list. Watch your back.
Don’t expect the union to have your back either. They’re chasing promotions too, and no one wants to make waves. I’ll quote one of the chiefs—won’t name who: “If you’re not writing people up, you are not doing your job.” Any chance of real brotherhood gets snuffed out by greed or fear. Everyone has a family to take care of—I get it—and this department has exploited that reality to its fullest extent.
I still have the COVID-era department advisories that made it crystal clear: get vaccinated or else. People don’t like to talk about it now, and many have conveniently forgotten, but a lot of guys were coerced into taking the jab out of fear of retaliation from much of the same administration still in charge today.
If you have aspirations of promoting, understand this upfront: be a good boy and play ball. If you don’t, expect to be skipped over for someone who will.
There was a time when this department was considered one of South Florida’s premier destination agencies, a place known throughout the county for elite personnel, strong leadership, and a culture that people actually wanted to be part of. Those days have long since come and gone.
What exists now is not a high-performing organization, but a hollowed-out shell of its former self.
The current reality is a department where capable, proactive administrative staff are routinely bullied, marginalized, and micromanaged by an egotistical, narcissistic, authoritarian “leader” who appears deeply threatened by anyone he perceives as more intelligent, more competent, or simply unwilling to stroke his ego. Leadership is no longer about vision, accountability, or service; it’s about control, fear, and personal insecurity.
The atmosphere within the department is one of fear and intimidation. Members are constantly walking on eggshells, not knowing when they might become the next target of the Chief’s vindictive behavior. Discipline is not applied fairly or consistently; instead, it appears to be doled out disproportionately based on personal feelings, perceived slights, or whether someone is involved with the union.
Several individuals have reportedly been directly threatened with demotion simply for expressing their opinions or for not being considered “company guys.” In other words, independent thought is discouraged, dissent is punished, and loyalty is measured not by professionalism or performance, but by submission.
The results are predictable and devastating:
High turnover
Low morale
A hostile work environment
A growing culture of silence and compliance
Experienced, motivated personnel are leaving. Those who remain are either burned out, disengaged, or afraid to speak. Institutional knowledge is hemorrhaging out the door, replaced by instability and dysfunction.
And yet, in the midst of all this while the department crumbles from the inside leadership can point to one shining achievement: the guys can play pickleball and basketball on duty.
So that makes everything fan freaking tastic.
Because nothing says “healthy organizational culture” quite like recreational sports masking systemic bullying, retaliatory discipline, and an administration driven more by ego than ethics.
This department didn’t just lose its way.
It was driven there deliberately by leadership that confuses authority with dominance, respect with fear, and accountability with personal vendettas.
Once a destination department.
Now a cautionary tale.
Where to begin. The top seems to be a good start. The Chief is only out from himself. Doesn’t have the backbone to stand up for his staff. Leaders should be narcissistic or vindictive. He is both. Some of his staff are good leaders but are handcuffed. Punishment is not equal. If your part of the “click” your good. If not get ready for suppression or even demotion. Covid era policies were borderline coercion. “Get the shot, your job and possible promotion depends on it. “Not getting the shot is career suicide”. Morale is at an all time low. 3-4 different pensions. Everyone wants what the other has. City did that on purpose to divide and conquer. Union tries to fight but can only do so much. Administration is always on the city’s side. There is more but why spoil it. Take the job if they hire you but start looking for another department.
Let’s be real — leadership in this department is a complete joke. The Fire Chief is a ****ing dick who doesn’t give a **** about anyone but himself. He doesn’t know the people on the floor, doesn’t show up for them, and doesn’t support the crews who are actually out there running calls and putting in the work. The stations are great and the firefighters are solid, but administration stays quiet and refuses to stand up for their own people. There’s zero backing from the top, zero accountability, and zero respect. The men and women on the floor deserve leadership that actually gives a damn — not someone who only looks out for himself.
The Fire Department is aware of the claims and personal attacks directed at the department and the Fire Chief on social media. It is our standard practice not to respond to posts or comments
that are intended solely to undermine leadership or cast doubt on our professionalism, especially when they originate from anonymous sources lacking direct knowledge or the facts.
Personal attacks and insults of this nature are counterproductive and serve only to distract from the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of our firefighters and administrative staff. We remain focused on our mission and will allow the quality of our service and the professionalism of our firefighters and staff to speak for themselves.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or willing to contribute in a constructive manner is encouraged to follow the appropriate channels so they can be resolved professionally
Has so much potential but it’s completely stiffened by bad leadership according to everyone I talk too. It’s a shame because of the fire men and women I know that work for the dept they are all very hard working but despite their efforts the department is falling apart. It’s sad to see so many people quit their career over bad leadership but I hear of it all the time with this department. Very unfortunate situation
If confusion, ego, and poor decision making were an Olympic sports, this Fire Chief would have a trophy case. It’s honestly heartbreaking to watch what’s happened here. This department is filled with dedicated, hardworking firefighters who care deeply about their community and each other. The talent is there. The experience is there.
What isn’t there? Leadership.
Since the current fire chief took over, morale has plummeted to an all time low. Good people, experienced people are leaving left and right. Not because of the job. Not because of the workload. Because of how they’re treated. Decisions are made with zero transparency, communication feels one directional at best and any attempt at feedback is met with dismissal or defensiveness.
Instead of building trust, the environment feels tense and transactional. Instead of supporting the crews, leadership seems disconnected from the day to day realities of the job. It’s hard to stay motivated when you feel unheard and undervalued.
The firefighters deserve better. The community deserves stability. And this department deserves leadership that lifts people up instead of driving them away.
Right now, the only thing spreading faster than a fire is the turnover at this place. Good people are forced to leave because of no change. Some describe it as a revolving door but it’s more like an open flood gate. The people here are drowning and the person holding everyone underwater is the guy at the very top.
Chiefs are politicians here that don’t take time to mingle with crews and when they do everyone has to walk on eggshells. If you’re actually a good captain and are thorough with your job inside and outside the station, you’re exiled and laughed at by your colleagues. A lot of cliques among shift personnel. I feel bad for the handful of good firefighters that excel at the job and not being a pos of a person because for the most part it’s buddies getting hired together and doing the bare minimum. Probies aren’t trained for the job just trained how to be the station do-bitch. And if you don’t kiss ass, even if you excel at all aspects of the job as a probie, you can basically kiss your job goodbye. Not to mention pines as a whole is just a glorified EMS agency. They don’t do much outside of running nursing home calls day in and day out. At least they have decent equipment. Pines is not the holy grail fire department it once was 20-30 years ago where people lined up around the block for a chance to interview
Rating Breakdown
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9 Reviews on “Pembroke Pines”
Great department with a great staff led by a lousy Chief. He is a menace. Vindictive and emotionally reactive. His own administrative staff disproves of him but won’t speak out due to fear of retaliation. He is indecisive and irrational. A micromanager that doesn’t trust people to do their jobs. He claims he’s cares about the greater good of the department but really only cares about the way he is perceived. He is the type of person that should never have been given a position of power. He bulldozes conversations in which he believes to be right, feels the need to raise his voice to get his point across. Such a shame.
I’ve been waiting a long time to say this, so here it is.
Do not come here expecting a family atmosphere. Administration rules with an iron fist, and compliance is the currency. Promotions, assignments, and career survival all depend on playing ball. Any attempt to band together or push back gets shut down quickly—and they get away with it because “snitching” is openly rewarded. It’s a near-perfect system when you and your so-called competition are all on the same promotional list. Watch your back.
Don’t expect the union to have your back either. They’re chasing promotions too, and no one wants to make waves. I’ll quote one of the chiefs—won’t name who: “If you’re not writing people up, you are not doing your job.” Any chance of real brotherhood gets snuffed out by greed or fear. Everyone has a family to take care of—I get it—and this department has exploited that reality to its fullest extent.
I still have the COVID-era department advisories that made it crystal clear: get vaccinated or else. People don’t like to talk about it now, and many have conveniently forgotten, but a lot of guys were coerced into taking the jab out of fear of retaliation from much of the same administration still in charge today.
If you have aspirations of promoting, understand this upfront: be a good boy and play ball. If you don’t, expect to be skipped over for someone who will.
The Fall of a “Destination Department”
There was a time when this department was considered one of South Florida’s premier destination agencies, a place known throughout the county for elite personnel, strong leadership, and a culture that people actually wanted to be part of. Those days have long since come and gone.
What exists now is not a high-performing organization, but a hollowed-out shell of its former self.
The current reality is a department where capable, proactive administrative staff are routinely bullied, marginalized, and micromanaged by an egotistical, narcissistic, authoritarian “leader” who appears deeply threatened by anyone he perceives as more intelligent, more competent, or simply unwilling to stroke his ego. Leadership is no longer about vision, accountability, or service; it’s about control, fear, and personal insecurity.
The atmosphere within the department is one of fear and intimidation. Members are constantly walking on eggshells, not knowing when they might become the next target of the Chief’s vindictive behavior. Discipline is not applied fairly or consistently; instead, it appears to be doled out disproportionately based on personal feelings, perceived slights, or whether someone is involved with the union.
Several individuals have reportedly been directly threatened with demotion simply for expressing their opinions or for not being considered “company guys.” In other words, independent thought is discouraged, dissent is punished, and loyalty is measured not by professionalism or performance, but by submission.
The results are predictable and devastating:
High turnover
Low morale
A hostile work environment
A growing culture of silence and compliance
Experienced, motivated personnel are leaving. Those who remain are either burned out, disengaged, or afraid to speak. Institutional knowledge is hemorrhaging out the door, replaced by instability and dysfunction.
And yet, in the midst of all this while the department crumbles from the inside leadership can point to one shining achievement: the guys can play pickleball and basketball on duty.
So that makes everything fan freaking tastic.
Because nothing says “healthy organizational culture” quite like recreational sports masking systemic bullying, retaliatory discipline, and an administration driven more by ego than ethics.
This department didn’t just lose its way.
It was driven there deliberately by leadership that confuses authority with dominance, respect with fear, and accountability with personal vendettas.
Once a destination department.
Now a cautionary tale.
Where to begin. The top seems to be a good start. The Chief is only out from himself. Doesn’t have the backbone to stand up for his staff. Leaders should be narcissistic or vindictive. He is both. Some of his staff are good leaders but are handcuffed. Punishment is not equal. If your part of the “click” your good. If not get ready for suppression or even demotion. Covid era policies were borderline coercion. “Get the shot, your job and possible promotion depends on it. “Not getting the shot is career suicide”. Morale is at an all time low. 3-4 different pensions. Everyone wants what the other has. City did that on purpose to divide and conquer. Union tries to fight but can only do so much. Administration is always on the city’s side. There is more but why spoil it. Take the job if they hire you but start looking for another department.
Let’s be real — leadership in this department is a complete joke. The Fire Chief is a ****ing dick who doesn’t give a **** about anyone but himself. He doesn’t know the people on the floor, doesn’t show up for them, and doesn’t support the crews who are actually out there running calls and putting in the work. The stations are great and the firefighters are solid, but administration stays quiet and refuses to stand up for their own people. There’s zero backing from the top, zero accountability, and zero respect. The men and women on the floor deserve leadership that actually gives a damn — not someone who only looks out for himself.
Response from Fire Chief Rodriguez
TO ALL PERSONNEL
SOCIAL MEDIA POST
The Fire Department is aware of the claims and personal attacks directed at the department and the Fire Chief on social media. It is our standard practice not to respond to posts or comments
that are intended solely to undermine leadership or cast doubt on our professionalism, especially when they originate from anonymous sources lacking direct knowledge or the facts.
Personal attacks and insults of this nature are counterproductive and serve only to distract from the hard work, dedication, and accomplishments of our firefighters and administrative staff. We remain focused on our mission and will allow the quality of our service and the professionalism of our firefighters and staff to speak for themselves.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or willing to contribute in a constructive manner is encouraged to follow the appropriate channels so they can be resolved professionally
Has so much potential but it’s completely stiffened by bad leadership according to everyone I talk too. It’s a shame because of the fire men and women I know that work for the dept they are all very hard working but despite their efforts the department is falling apart. It’s sad to see so many people quit their career over bad leadership but I hear of it all the time with this department. Very unfortunate situation
Where do we start:
If confusion, ego, and poor decision making were an Olympic sports, this Fire Chief would have a trophy case. It’s honestly heartbreaking to watch what’s happened here. This department is filled with dedicated, hardworking firefighters who care deeply about their community and each other. The talent is there. The experience is there.
What isn’t there? Leadership.
Since the current fire chief took over, morale has plummeted to an all time low. Good people, experienced people are leaving left and right. Not because of the job. Not because of the workload. Because of how they’re treated. Decisions are made with zero transparency, communication feels one directional at best and any attempt at feedback is met with dismissal or defensiveness.
Instead of building trust, the environment feels tense and transactional. Instead of supporting the crews, leadership seems disconnected from the day to day realities of the job. It’s hard to stay motivated when you feel unheard and undervalued.
The firefighters deserve better. The community deserves stability. And this department deserves leadership that lifts people up instead of driving them away.
Right now, the only thing spreading faster than a fire is the turnover at this place. Good people are forced to leave because of no change. Some describe it as a revolving door but it’s more like an open flood gate. The people here are drowning and the person holding everyone underwater is the guy at the very top.
Chiefs are politicians here that don’t take time to mingle with crews and when they do everyone has to walk on eggshells. If you’re actually a good captain and are thorough with your job inside and outside the station, you’re exiled and laughed at by your colleagues. A lot of cliques among shift personnel. I feel bad for the handful of good firefighters that excel at the job and not being a pos of a person because for the most part it’s buddies getting hired together and doing the bare minimum. Probies aren’t trained for the job just trained how to be the station do-bitch. And if you don’t kiss ass, even if you excel at all aspects of the job as a probie, you can basically kiss your job goodbye. Not to mention pines as a whole is just a glorified EMS agency. They don’t do much outside of running nursing home calls day in and day out. At least they have decent equipment. Pines is not the holy grail fire department it once was 20-30 years ago where people lined up around the block for a chance to interview