139. Preet Bassi, CEO of CPSE, on Fire Department Accreditation, Igniting Volunteerism, and Innovation Through Evidence-Based Practices

Are our communities really prepared for modern public safety threats? And what role do accreditation and credentialing play in building resilient fire departments?In this episode of Associations Thrive, host Joanna Pineda interviews Preet Bassi, CEO of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE). Preet discusses:The reasons fire departments pursue accreditation: to showcase excellence, correct operational failures, or continuously improve.Why CPSE’s model works best for medium to large fire departments — big enough to implement a structured management model but small enough to pivot strategically.The challenges faced by rural volunteer fire departments, including lack of resources, equity of service, and training gaps amid increasing environmental and societal threats.The growing importance of fire departments defining and meeting "standards of cover" — performance metrics for different emergency scenarios.CPSE’s internal commitment to strategic planning: transitioning from a “fix it” plan to their current “grow it” plan, with a people-first focus.How CPSE manages and celebrates its volunteers, and contractors, whose contributions amount to 28.5 full-time equivalents annually.The launch of the CPSE Center for Innovation, a new subsidiary to support evidence-based decision-making and broaden CPSE’s impact in the field.Creation of the CPSE Community Experience to keep departments and credentialed individuals engaged between accreditation cycles.The shift in public safety from public administration to public policy — requiring departments to address homelessness, addiction, mental health, and affordable housing.Preet’s Sikh heritage and how the value of seva (selfless service) influences both her career and personal life.References:CPSE WebsiteWhat is Seva?