Indianapolis Firefighters Timeline
Welcome to our Timeline
We are in the process of gathering information of the History of your Local 416. This will be Union Focused history, from the Establishment in 1934 until now. Check back to see our progress.
Indianapolis Firefighters Local 416 Established on October 4th, 1934
1st President
William B. Griffis 1934-1940
2nd President
Orval Marshall
1941-1944
3rd President
Stuart Spangler
1945-1948
4th President
William Scherer
1949-1959
5th President
Louis Bauer 1951-1956
6th President
Eugene Williams 1957-1958
7th President
Francis Commons 1959-1960
8th President
Maynard Byrum
1961-1970
1970
Indianapolis Firefighters Association – aided the Local 416 with first building purchase.
Building purchase for union use at 3701 w 10th st (later known as Jake and Reva’s Pub)
1971-1978
President Don Wolf
1970-1975
Creation of the Merit System
1977
Strike Vote
Firefighters willing to strike.
IAFF 8th District DVP Jack Gannon worked with local leadership and members to come up with a plan to work through the issues.
Secret Ballot taken, final outcome: local voted not to strike and work with Mayor Hudnut.
1978
Due to the events of 1977 the Executive board established the PAC committee and fund.
The Local was determined to become a part of community and political events
- Established City County Council Stew night
- Family Friendly events (Annual Picnic etc. )
- Increased Family participation
1979-1982
President Joe E. Olofson
1983-1988
President Mike Schenk
1984
Local looks to relocate from W10th St
In late 1984, 2 buildings were identified to be purchased at 748 Mass Ave. Old Station 2 and Stable Bldg.
Hired Schmidt and Associates for master Development plan
Local leadership visits other cities, including Mishawaka, to see Fire Safety and Community
Engagement facilities. This allows our design for Survive Alive
Members Vote in Favor of purchase if no dues are used in the purchase of buildings.
Money used to purchase buildings came from fundraising, including donations from community partners like the Lilly Endowment and Indianapolis Health Foundation.
The Local also took a small loan in the amount of $68,000 to complete the purchase, from Indiana National Bank.
1986-1987
Senator Jack Cottey worked with Local 416 on an Amendment to merit system that allowed local 1/3 available picks of Merit Board
1984-1993
Work completed in the buildings
Work parties by the members on off days, and weekends until March 1993
1993-2002
President Thomas Hanify
March 1993
Moved into New Union Hall. Small unheated space in the old stable area used as a makeshift office. Final completion of the building becomes more urgent.
1994-1995
Tom Hanify / Keith Smith
Started Budget presentation to the City-County Council
- Parade of Apparatus
- Fashion Show ( Members brought to council in full gear, class A , Hazmat Suits,)
- Met with community Leaders directly
Formalize Labor Management Meetings
Local Creates a program to teach other departments how to do this
- Due to this forward-thinking, IFD became involved in 10 cited initiative
- The city would not cover all expenses for attendees; the city would cover airfare and the union would pay for rooms and expenses
1995
Marion County Fire PAC
This is established for the benefit of agencies outside of the IFD service district.
Tom Hanify and Executive Board Begin to absorb the other Marion County locals over the course of 3 years
Washington Township Local is first to be merged
This becomes a very successful endeavor politically
DVP’s become compensated for work
Brownsburg becomes the first local outside Marion County to be brought in
1999
Tom Hanify / IFD Chief Keith Smith
Establish Political Burn Program
Political Show and Tell – Brought politicians and community leaders to new flashover training at the Airport training facility
This has developed into the bi-annual Fire Ops 101 that the Local hosts bringing Politicians and community stakeholders together to experience a small part of what our brothers and sisters do.
2002
26 area Fire Departments are represented by the Local 416
2003-2008
President Mike Reeves
2003
Local 416 and the PFFUI started separating out of county Fire departments under the Leadership of Mike Reeves and his Executive Board with President Hanify at tht PFFUI
This process took a total of 3 years to complete the separation.
2004
First Township member Elected to Executive Board. Bill Burkhart from Pike Township elected as Vice President of Local 416
2005
Indianapolis Fire Department History added to the Archives of the Indianapolis Public Library
This was accomplished after a delegation from the Executive board and the IFD visited Fort Wayne
This was a Union Driven Project.
2008
Wayne Smith First African American President of L416
Established Tech Highschool Firefighter training program
2010
New Addition added onto building
2012-2016
President Mike Reeves (2nd Term)
2016
Credit Union building completed. Union owns land and 49% share of building. This project expands the footprint of the campus.
2016- 2024
President Hank Harris
2017-2023 IFD Training Academy
President Harris, the executive board, the Administration of the Indianapolis Fire Department, and Many Political and community stakeholders work together to build the Indianapolis Fire Department Training Center. Providing a world-class facility to train new and incumbent firefighters. This Process Began in 2017, and the facility's grand opening occurred in 2023 with the IFD recruit class 88.
2018
Museum and Hall expansion. This project was a multi-year project by the executive board and made possible by grants, including the Indiana Historical Society. President Harris and Vice President Williams oversaw the project through completion.
2018 Local 416 Peer Support Program
President Harris and the Executive Board establish the Local 416 Peer Support Team. Under the clinical direction of Reitree, Dr. Bob Smith, Captain Brandon Dreiman, Chief Doug Abernathy of the IFD District, and Firefighter Tim Gallagher of the Wayne District The team works with the IAFF, The Center of Excellence, and many other stakeholders to develop and promote a peer support program that will assist district peer support teams, offer training, collect and vet resources, and provide information when issues arise.
2019 Airport District Reorganized
President Harris and the Executive staff, as well as DVP Booth of the Airport District, work to change ordinances, which in turn allow the Airport District to be reorganized and brought back into the Local.
2020 Education Commitee
Education Committee is established by President Harris and the Executive staff. This allows for state classes to be offered at the Local level. Providing free or low-cost education to members to expand or improve their education.
2021 Beechgrove Interlocal agreement
The City of Indianapolis and the City of Beechgrove work with President Harris and the Executive Staff to create the first Interlocal agreement. This groundbreaking agreement provides cost savings to the excluded City as well as job enhancement and security to the brothers of the Beechgrove District.
2022 Beechgrove EMS District Established
Beechgrove EMS District Established under the Leadership of President Harris, his executive Staff, and DVP Regan Cloyd.
2022 Proteam
President Harris and the executive board remodeled the third floor and leased the space to ProTeam Tactical for the rehabilitation and Physical therapy of hurt and injured firefighters.
2022 MESA Organized
President Harris and the Executive Board, along with DVP Molly Sprauge, are able to successfully organize the Telecommunicators of the MESA district. This is the first time the Local represents a unit that operates with the police side of public safety. The MESA district is made up of two groups: the Fire-EMS communications and the Police communications
2024 -
President Shannon Whiteley
2024 -2025 IPFF Trust Launched
The Local established the IPFF trust. Under the Leadership of President Whiteley, the Trust Board President Harris, the Executive staff and trust board. Establishing an insurance Health and Wellness Trust for Members of Local 416. This trust allows the Local and Executive boards to provide a vehicle for reasonable health care.