1) Newly promoted Santa Monica Fire Captains (left to right) Matt Norris, Mathew Galvan and Judah Mitchell, swear-in during Santa Monica Fire Department's Inaugural  Promotion and Recognition Ceremony at Santa Monica City Hall on Tuesday, March 31, 2009. 2) Pam Skorstad pins her husband, Fire Engineer John Skorstad with his new SMFD badge as their daughters Samantha, 10, and Kristian 8, look on. 3) Santa Monica Fire Chief Jim Hone presents Captain Jerry Parker with the '2009 Fire Department Employee of the Year' award during the Inaugural Promotion and Recognition Ceremony.

Firefighter Code of Ethics

I will uphold the standards of my profession, continually search for new and improved methods and share my knowledge and skills with my contemporaries and descendants.

I will never allow personal feelings, nor danger to self, deter me from my responsibilities as a firefighter.

I will at all times, respect the property and rights of all men and women, the laws of my community and my country, and the chosen way of life of my fellow citizens.

I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the fire service. I will constantly strive to achieve the objectives and ideals, dedicating myself to my chosen profession--saving of life, fire prevention and fire suppression.

As a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters, I accept this self-imposed and self-enforced obligation as my responsibility."