Promotions

[NJFFSA16]

Fire Dept. announces new system for selecting battalion chiefs
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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - City officials announced Tuesday that
they are adopting a new, merit-based system for choosing fire
department battalion chiefs.
Mayor David Cicilline and Fire Chief David Costa said the system
will help assure department members that promotions are based on
what they know rather than who they know.
"We need the confidence of all the men and women of this
department," Costa said.
He said the system will rely on a test written and evaluated by
an outside firm as well as credit for experience in the department
and good conduct. Credit will also be given for attending
department-sponsored training seminars and college courses.
The first test will be given in May. The company preparing and
scoring the test already provides the tests used for promotions to
the ranks of captain and lieutenant.
Costa and Cicilline said the battalion chief promotions system
was developed in collaboration with the firefighters' union.
"I hope today's announcement is a stepping stone for further
work with Local 799, the firefighters' union," Costa said.
The union is involved in an ongoing contract dispute with the
city, and firefighters have been without a contract for more than
four years. The mayor said Tuesday that negotiations are
continuing.
According to Costa, there are a total of eight battalion chief
positions in the city. He said he expects six of those will be
filled with candidates chosen through the new system.
Right now, three of the battalion chief positions are vacant,
and another three are expected to open up soon as people are
promoted.



(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[MysticFlame]

"will help assure department members that promotions are based on
what they know rather than who they know"

Wow, something in RI based on what you know instead of who you know. I am highly impressed! Especially since it is something so important!!! Thanks for posting this.

[PuffyNPFD]

One of the last dying traditions of the Providence Fire Dept. is changing. The nation's second oldest paid fire dept will be ridding itself of patronage. Should have happened long ago. There have been chiefs that have been promoted from the rank of firefighter to chief although usually in administrative capacities such as internal affairs or in charge of the repair shop. They currently have a deputy asst. chief and 2 BC's on each shift as well as BC's serving in training, safety, and internal affairs. DAC's serve as Fire Marshal, EMS director, Administrative aide to the COD and Repair Superintendent.

[PuffyNPFD]

Are you sure it was a Providence firefighter??? A guy on my job got caught with a female in the bunkroom and it was all over the papers. (we are the next city north) Anyway it just isn't a Providence thing, morale is bad everywhere, the biggest problem being that the people they are hiring now are only there for pay, benefits and job security. They have no clue about the real mission of this job or brotherhood and the selfless risking of one's behind for another in need. It's a "me,me,me" society and it is finally catching up with us.