As a professional public safety agency, the Fire and Rescue Department and its employees are held to a higher standard of integrity than the community it serves. The department has established the Professional Standards Office to help maintain this level of integrity and professionalism.

All employees are subject to the department's Rules and Regulations and to Fairfax County's Personnel Rules and Code of Ethics. The Professional Standards Office will respond to any credible information concerning misconduct by department employees, and is charged with the responsibility of investigating any serious allegations of misconduct involving an employee.

Through the use of various investigative techniques, the Professional Standards Office gathers the necessary information needed to determine the truth surrounding an allegation. The employee's rights are important and are protected through any investigation, along with the integrity and confidentiality of the investigation itself.