Lafd Non-selected

[BKDRAFT]

http://www.lafdnonselected.com/index.html

[the1141man]

Looked at the site, and two things occurred to me:

1) That flushing sound...probably someone's career going down the toilet. Sure, he's standing up for what he believes in, but it'll definitely come at a high cost.

2) Most of the stories so far (there's only 11) related are from people who have a few years in, heaps of certs, possibly a Medic ticket or an ASFS degree. Maybe that's not what the department is looking for? Perhaps there's been a number of problems in the past with "2/20" or "Fire-God on Paper" FFs coming into the dept and especially their Academy with know-it-all or "entitled" attitudes? Maybe they want "clean slates" to teach and train their way without resistance or "well this isn't how we did it at BFE FD".
Then again, maybe it's just more PC BS.

Who knows? I'm not defending the practice, just thinking of a possible explanation for the change in hiring practices.

I do have to ask myself, though: if this wasn't a high-profile dept like LAFD...would there be websites relating the experiences of those not hired by the Podunk, CA FD?

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

He's got 31 years on. What the hell does he care?

[the1141man]

He's got 31 years on. What the hell does he care?

Well, according to the little "About" blurb, he started the site because he cares a great deal about the department.

I can understand the whole "getting stories and building a case" to prove that there's unfair, dishonest, "PC" or "affirmative-action" (outlawed in California in the mid-90s, race may no longer be considered a factor in hiring decisions) hiring practices going on. However, posting those stories on the website, that just makes things more difficult if he's intending to go to court over the matter...and if he's not intending to go to court over it, then what is the point, truly??

And why just LA City? Why not other departments doing this, too? Hell, why even stop at the Fire Service? I know of PD/SDs that have hired "less than desireable" candidates for LE positions...who's going after them?
I've been passed over for positions that I felt I was "highly qualified" for, in favor of a "less qualified" person... yeah, it sucks, but I moved on. Part of it was me honestly asking myself: was I truly the "best qualified" candidate, or did I just think I was? We're all really reluctant to admit that we're not the best at something we really want to do, something that means a lot, and that we put in lots of hard work and effort to reach for.
But the key is to keep on reaching, and eventually you'll get there, despite the extra hurdles and distance you have to go--and it'll be all the sweeter for having had to go that extra mile to get it.
"No one cherishes that which comes easily," or something to that effect.

[BKDRAFT]

Why not other departments? This Captain isn't going to save the world. He is trying to improve and bring even more attention to the corrupt hiring practices of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Move on? No. If people just accepted things and looked the other way things would never get changed for the better.

LAFD does not have anything anyone can find that states what a "qualified" candidate is. They are a publicly funded agency and it should be public record.

Hiring ex-gang members and passing on candidates with degrees, medic license, and fire experience with great backgrounds does not make sense.

[BKDRAFT]

He's got 31 years on. What the hell does he care?

Some people don't coast there last few years before retirement.

These horrible candidates they have been hiring have barley passed rookie school, and many are failing out. These people are backing them up and there life depends on it. This isn't a place where you screw up and burn the burger for not paying attention. Life's are at risk on this job.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Well, according to the little "About" blurb, he started the site because he cares a great deal about the department.

I can understand the whole "getting stories and building a case" to prove that there's unfair, dishonest, "PC" or "affirmative-action" (outlawed in California in the mid-90s, race may no longer be considered a factor in hiring decisions) hiring practices going on. However, posting those stories on the website, that just makes things more difficult if he's intending to go to court over the matter...and if he's not intending to go to court over it, then what is the point, truly??

And why just LA City? Why not other departments doing this, too? Hell, why even stop at the Fire Service? I know of PD/SDs that have hired "less than desireable" candidates for LE positions...who's going after them?
I've been passed over for positions that I felt I was "highly qualified" for, in favor of a "less qualified" person... yeah, it sucks, but I moved on. Part of it was me honestly asking myself: was I truly the "best qualified" candidate, or did I just think I was? We're all really reluctant to admit that we're not the best at something we really want to do, something that means a lot, and that we put in lots of hard work and effort to reach for.
But the key is to keep on reaching, and eventually you'll get there, despite the extra hurdles and distance you have to go--and it'll be all the sweeter for having had to go that extra mile to get it.
"No one cherishes that which comes easily," or something to that effect.

I don't mean what does he care about the LAFD, I mean what does he care about what they do to his career? He's got 31 years in, he can walk out the door tomorrow. What are they going to do to him?

He's the best type of guy to tackle this problem and I applaud him.

[Coastalwarvet]

I have lurked around this website for some time trying to learn, doing what my Dad told me to do when I left for the Navy, "keep your eyes open and your mouth shut". Thats how I found advice for EMT related material among other helpful topics, and this thread long before my interview.

After fighting my first simulated fire in the Navy I knew I wanted to do this with my life. My 4 years were up, I got out, and while acquiring my AS in Fire Tech, EMT national and county (LA) cert, Hazmat, ect ect my reserve unit was mobilized in support of OIF. When I came back, I finished my AS and EMT.

I tested with LAFD as I had before my deployment with LA county and Orang County, and was excited beyond words to get a score high enough to be interviewed.

The stars or whatever powers to be were aligned just right on that interview day, as I went in there nervous as all hell, and then smoked it so damn well I was amazed myself. Eveything just flowed and brought out what I could sell about myself, I was walked out by one of the interviewers, told I "aced it" and was given a wink and a wish of good luck and sent on my way to pick up the background packet.

I then got the letter that I received a 100 on the oral board, not including my vet credit that I submitted later to boost it to 105. Now I'm floating.

I grew up in LA, so knowing a pot head and possibly having one as a friend shouldn't be a mind boggling offense to society nor a reflection on my character, if anything being open minded enough to have a wide array of friends and yet not partake in "negative" practices should only enforce my character right? I have two moving violations, one almost 5 years old, and we all know that in this city its not because your outwardly driving crazy, your just the un-lucky guy to be in the cross hairs that day. Oh oh and I stole some bubble gum when I was 6yrs old.

Now its the above things that leads me to believe why I am now one of the many honored recipients of the "Not Selected" letters.

Bummer? Yes, I didn't wake up yesterday saying "oh, I want to be a firefighter". This is the city I was born and raised in, in the country I served. Its not the most innocent of cities, and I suppose that will be to my disadvantage for growing up in it.

So that web-site was a very interesting read, and now I'm un-fortunately a member of this growing group. If I can't pass LA's background, I wonder if there is any hope at getting a job with the smaller stricter fire departments (testing 1600 people to derive 6-12 hires) in the LA area.