IAEM-USA Petition Update
In last month’s blog, Fighting Back, I asked you to consider signing a petition calling for the International Association of Emergency Managers to enforce its Code of Conduct. While the petition was not formally sent to IAEM, has responded to the concerns we raised in the petition. I recently received the following message regarding IAEM’s response.
Hello friends,
Thank you for adding your name to our petition asking that IAEM enforce its Professional Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Given IAEM’s response to the petition as outlined below, we have decided not to formally send the petition to the IAEM Board of Directors at this time. Below are the four requests included in our letter, and a summary of how IAEM has addressed our requests:
- Issue a clear statement clarifying the role of emergency managers in the United States and condemning the participation of emergency managers in detaining persons perceived to be immigrants. On September 4, 2025, IAEM released a written statement making the organization’s position clear that “emergency management exists to safeguard lives and property, protect communities, and foster resilience through thoughtful, evidence-based strategies”; that “[e]very decision we make should reflect our responsibility to uphold public trust”; and that “[a]bove all, emergency managers should do what they can to ensure emergency management remains a discipline rooted in compassion and service to all people as we work to build safer communities.” https://www.iaem.org/Groups/Councils-Global-Regions/IAEM-USA-Council/August-2025-President-Statement.
- Hold those who have violated the current Code of Conduct accountable by revoking their Certified Emergency Manager (CEM®) or Associate Emergency Manager (AEM®) credentials of those who participate in an official capacity in depriving members of their community of their rights.
In a separate statement issued on September 3, 2025, to IAEM member and CEM Matt Green, the IAEM Presidential team stated that it has engaged with the Certification Commission leadership “to examine potential implications for applications that reference any work completed in the planning, construction, and operation of any detention facility for immigrants anywhere in the US and around the world,” and has “emphasized that the Commission must ensure its processes are prepared to evaluate applications that include experience within detention facilities.” The statement further indicates that the Presidential team has directed the Commission to “ensure we conduct a fair evaluation of emergency management work while confirming, and being absolutely certain, that no activity described in an application violates IAEM’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Additionally, they will continue to ensure that any experience or documentation submitted upholds the principles of emergency management.” https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1c-e1cON6NrSi5ehn9O2vertw08YECy3c.
IAEM further indicates in this statement that it has “coordinated with IAEM’s legal counsel and the Executive Director to ensure operational readiness to address any complaint that is received, supported by evidence, involving an IAEM member or AEM®/CEM® certification holder. Should any member suspect that another member, or a certificate holder, is violating the code or engaging in illegal activity, our system and processes stand ready to evaluate each complaint . . . .” https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1c-e1cON6NrSi5ehn9O2vertw08YECy3c.
The IAEM complaint process can be found at https://www.iaem.org/Complaint-Procedure. - Update the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct to make it clear that emergency managers who participate in an official capacity in depriving members of their community of their rights violate the Code and may be disciplined as a result
For now, given IAEM’s statements as cited above, it appears the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct addresses the issues presented by participation in depriving people perceived to be immigrants of their rights. See https://www.iaem.org/Portals/25/documents/Bylaws%20and%20Apps/IAEM-USA-APPs-Board-Approved.pdf. (p. 29-31.) For example, the Code provides that “IAEM-USA members have a primary duty of loyalty to the communities they serve and the environments they impact. Their work should uphold high ethical standards and respect for human dignity.” (p. 29.) In addition, the Code requires that members of IAEM act with respect for “the people we serve through compliance with the laws, regulations, and recognized standards is essential in maintaining integrity and trust in our professional and community relationships.”
Similar requirements apply to those who have achieved IAEM certification as an AEM® or CEM®. See https://www.iaem.org/Portals/IAEMcertified/Documents/Resources/Professional-Ethics-and-Conduct-Guide.pdf. - Keep members of the profession informed on a regular basis as to the steps IAEM-USA is taking to address this issue
The statements issued by IAEM are a good first step in communicating IAEM’s position and its willingness to enforce the Code in the event of violations. We believe IAEM can do a better job of being transparent in their disciplinary actions while still maintaining privacy, but that is an issue for another day.
All that said, we encourage you to contact IAEM directly to express your thoughts, especially if you feel that the points in our letter were not fully addressed. We believe it is especially important that IAEM hear from anyone who made a decision to renew, rejoin, or to leave the organization based on these issues. We also believe it is particularly important for IAEM to hear from people who refrained from signing the petition out of fear. Anything we can collectively do to address that fear will only help the organization and the profession.
Sincerely,
Nathaniel Matthews-Trigg, MPH, CEM
Sarah Miller, PhD, CEM
Edie Schaffer, JD, CEM
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