New Haven, Conn. Fire Dept.'s Ability Test Has Friends, Foes

Feb. 09--NEW HAVEN -- The New Haven Fire Union, Local 825, is supporting a measure that would require potential employees to pass a Candidate Physical Ability Test, but the city said it has no plan to use it and other organizations say it's a racist tactic used to deny city residents opportunities, especially communities of color.

At a press conference Wednesday, the Greater New Haven Firebird Association partnered with the New Haven Clergy Association and the Greater New Haven Branch of the NAACP for a collective push to assure city residents equal employment opportunities.

According to the city's website, basic requirements at the time of a fire department application are: that the candidate be at least 18, have a high school diploma or GED and valid Connecticut drivers license.

But city corporation counsel Victor A. Bolden said the CPAT exam is not part of the process for the class.

"From the outset, the City's Fire Department intended to ensure that candidates for the entry-level firefighter positions had sufficient physical agility skills to do the job, but not by using Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT)," said Bolden.

"While there has been consideration of including that process in some way, that is an issue for another day and not for the administration of this exam."

Racial controversy ruptured when the union agreed to support a measure introduced by the Fire Commission to require a CPAT as a perquisite at time of application.

"This test will deny many New Haven residents the opportunity to be firefighters, especially women and communities of color," said Lt. Gary Tinney, who is first assistant director of the black professional firefighters.

"We talk about jobs for the inner city youth and reducing crime and gun violence in the city, this is one way to get many youth off the streets and into a career that they can support themselves and their families," said Tinney, who has served as a city firefighter for over 18 years. "A diverse workforce is the most effective workforce,"

The press conference was held at the NAACP headquarters on Whalley Avenue.

The CPAT is an agility test that measures ones ability to perform the essential job functions of a firefighter. The test is recognized by the Justice Department as job related.

Union President Jimmy Kottage said a meeting was held last month and the New Haven Fire Commission voted unanimously to send a letter to the mayor recommending the city require CPAT for new employees.

"The union made it clear that they support any measures to ensure no potential applicant would be disenfranchised because of economical status.

"CPAT does not discriminate on age, race, or it only identifies individuals who have the physical ability to be a firefighter. Kottage said. "Our Chief's Office is also in support of CPAT."

In addition, union officials said in a statement, "We can't find any documented case where a candidate failed out of any training academy in the nation for lack of physical fitness once they passed CPAT and that the applicant after passing should be confident that they can meet the physical fitness level necessary to complete the academy."

Frank Ricci, union vice-president, said the city is lowering its standards.

"Once again, the city is attempting to circumvent the merit system by lowering recognized standards for critical public safety jobs," Ricci said.

"The union is for providing preparation classes and transportation to take the practice and final tests. The city already has a mechanism in place to cover the costs of the application process for any citizen claiming a hardship," he added.

"This in turn reduces the city's liability."

But Mike Neal, president of the New Haven Fire Birds Association, said the city can't afford to cover all cost and the test would be a disgrace to New Haven.

"Its not a state mandate test and the city can not provide enough services for all New Haven residents that apply," Neal said. "The test is $150 per person and I know this city is not going to do that or can afford it."

"No one is afraid of the CPAT, but allow the CPAT to be done during the training academy after people have been hired," said the Rev Boise Kimber, who attended the press conference, and is pastor of First Calvary Baptist Church.

"This is an old trick; you change the game when it appears that a large numbers of blacks are applying," he said.

"They put these stumbling blocks in the way to keep us out,"