Adze39
02-05-2004, 11:25 PM
You can go to WTNH's website and watch the story on it:
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=1633006
Fight over firefighter exams
(New Haven-WTNH, Feb. 5, 2004 10:15 PM) _ The debate continues within the New Haven Fire Department over the exams given for promotions. The city suggests the results get thrown out because too few minorities scored well. It's an issue that's creating a racial divide and putting the city in a "no-win" situation.
As the results stand right now, no minorities are eligible for fire lieutenant positions and just two minorities are eligible for captain. These exams happen once every few years and with pay raises and titles at stake, its not surprising there's an uproar over the results.
"We're dependent on each other to save each other's life."
Firefighting knew no racial divides in New Haven at a fire on Cove Street a few weeks ago. As a smoke and flames threatened to overwhelm a firefighter another firefighter rescued him, and to new haven firefighter Gary Tinney that's how it should be.
"We're in the business of saving lives and we have to get along," he said.
But a promotional test for captain and lieutenant positions is creating racial tension in the ranks. The top scorers eligible for promotion were white, with only two Hispanics making the grade for captain.
The city is now considering throwing out the test.
"Isn't it reasonable to at least look behind the exam and try to determine if there was something about the exam that maybe was unfair discriminatory," said James Se ____ _____ .
"It's totally unfair to disregard something that is legally valid," said union leader Pat Egan.
Egan suggested instead an outside party evaluate the test. When he finished talking the majority of the room, mostly white firefighters, got up and left with him.
Left behind in the room those who had problems with the new company that gave the test.
"In 1996 and '99, Blacks and Latinos were able to pass promotional exams in the top five," said Donald Day, International Association of Black Professional Firefighters.
Some firefighters say the test asked irrelevant questions and that others had an unfair advantage.
"People had these books before the syllabus was handed out," Tinney said.
Still others argue the discrimination factor could go both ways.
"You know how many white firefighters failed the test? They didn't even make 70%," attorney Karen Torre said. "Are you going to presume that this test discriminated against all those white firefighters?"
No decision has been made yet. Either way the city may face a lawsuit.
If the current results are certified lawyer John William says he has been retained by a group of African American firefighters to sue the city. If the results aren't certified, Torre says she has been retained by a predominantly white group of firefighters to fight to keep the results.
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=1633006
Fight over firefighter exams
(New Haven-WTNH, Feb. 5, 2004 10:15 PM) _ The debate continues within the New Haven Fire Department over the exams given for promotions. The city suggests the results get thrown out because too few minorities scored well. It's an issue that's creating a racial divide and putting the city in a "no-win" situation.
As the results stand right now, no minorities are eligible for fire lieutenant positions and just two minorities are eligible for captain. These exams happen once every few years and with pay raises and titles at stake, its not surprising there's an uproar over the results.
"We're dependent on each other to save each other's life."
Firefighting knew no racial divides in New Haven at a fire on Cove Street a few weeks ago. As a smoke and flames threatened to overwhelm a firefighter another firefighter rescued him, and to new haven firefighter Gary Tinney that's how it should be.
"We're in the business of saving lives and we have to get along," he said.
But a promotional test for captain and lieutenant positions is creating racial tension in the ranks. The top scorers eligible for promotion were white, with only two Hispanics making the grade for captain.
The city is now considering throwing out the test.
"Isn't it reasonable to at least look behind the exam and try to determine if there was something about the exam that maybe was unfair discriminatory," said James Se ____ _____ .
"It's totally unfair to disregard something that is legally valid," said union leader Pat Egan.
Egan suggested instead an outside party evaluate the test. When he finished talking the majority of the room, mostly white firefighters, got up and left with him.
Left behind in the room those who had problems with the new company that gave the test.
"In 1996 and '99, Blacks and Latinos were able to pass promotional exams in the top five," said Donald Day, International Association of Black Professional Firefighters.
Some firefighters say the test asked irrelevant questions and that others had an unfair advantage.
"People had these books before the syllabus was handed out," Tinney said.
Still others argue the discrimination factor could go both ways.
"You know how many white firefighters failed the test? They didn't even make 70%," attorney Karen Torre said. "Are you going to presume that this test discriminated against all those white firefighters?"
No decision has been made yet. Either way the city may face a lawsuit.
If the current results are certified lawyer John William says he has been retained by a group of African American firefighters to sue the city. If the results aren't certified, Torre says she has been retained by a predominantly white group of firefighters to fight to keep the results.