Raymond Clement Picard

Picard, Raymond Clement
12/14/1927 - 3/28/2017
Ray Picard is survived by his wife, Donna; his five children: Mary Maio, Toni Clubb, Elizabeth Smith, Victoria Coopman and Andrew Picard; together with eleven grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and one brother William Evans.
Raymond Picard entered the professional fire service in 1950 with the Pasadena fire department and was with the city for 16 years. He moved on to become the Fire Chief in Huntington Beach, where he served for 24 years. In Huntington Beach he initiated a fire prevention program, and directed the installation of a computer aided (CAD) system, which at the time was among the first in the country. Chief Picard was instrumental in establishing a Joint Powers Authority to provide unified communications, standard training, automatic aid, and arson investigation for the cities of Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Westminster and Seal Beach. He also developed and implemented the FireMed membership program. Before retirement as chief, Ray oversaw the task to lead cleanup of the massive Huntington Beach oil spill in 1990.
Starting in the late 1980s as a member of the Accreditation Task Force for the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Ray Picard helped mold the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) Accreditation Model. His contributions to the Fire and Emergency Service Self Assessment Manual (FESSAM) would span eight editions of the FESSAM over thirty years. In recognition of the vital role Picard played not only in the forming of the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) but its continued operation, CPSE established an award in his name. The Ray Picard award recognizes individual superior leadership and outstanding contribution to CFAI and the accreditation of fire departments. The award is designed to recognize the individual(s) who exemplify the ability, character, dedication, and leadership attributes exemplified by Chief Picard.
He served as a member of the California State Board of Fire Services for ten years, a member of the Public Safety Steering Committee of the National League of Cities and President of the Fire Chief Section of the California League of Cities. He was co-author and co-editor of the International City Management Association's textbook, "Managing Fire Services".
Ray was a graduate of Pasadena City College and the University of Southern California and taught extensively throughout the United States. He also lectured in Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, China, Japan, and Korea. He loved traveling with his wife and friends, playing racquetball, swimming and spending time with his many friends and family.
A memorial service will be held April 15th at 10:00 AM at Saddleback Chapel, 220 East Main St., Tustin. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Huntington Beach Search and Rescue Program, 18381 Gothard Street, Huntington Beach, California 92648 HBSAR is a 501 c 3 nonprofit #20-5765169.