Region: Rally calls for more minority hires for New London police, fire department

New London rally a ‘call for action’ in wake of rescinded job offers involving fire department

New London — Local social justice advocate Ron Ward on Monday called for a more focused attempt by the city to hire black and Latino firefighters and police officers.

Two dozen people gathered at City Hall for a “call for action” — an opportunity to discuss race and diversity in the city’s hiring practices. The gathering was attended by several city councilors and interim Chief Administrative Officer Steven Fields.

Ward, a new member of the personnel board, said an outcry arose when Mayor Michael Passero rescinded job offers to three people who applied for uncertified firefighter positions, two of whom were minorities. The job po- sitions were recently reposted.

Passero said the offers were made during a flawed and rushed hiring process under former Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio. Finizio at the time had hired a black certified firefighter, just the second black firefighter since 1978.

Ward said the community has yet to get a full explanation about “why those positions were snatched away,” from the uncertified candidates.

Ward said the fact Finizio had drawn from a complete list of eligible candidates instead of the traditional “rule of three,” should not be grounds for any lawsuit. The city’s personnel rules allow police and fire recruits to be chosen from anywhere on an eligibility list rather than the top three on a list, “in an effort to enhance diversification.”

Councilors in attendance said they thought the mayor was sincere in his efforts to reach out into the community to capture a more diverse group of applicants.

Ward acknowledged Passero had visited several predominately black churches, including the Mount Moriah Fire Baptized Holiness Church, over the weekend to make an appeal for firefighter applicants.

Al Mayo, whose hire in 2011 was the first since 1978, said there are still barriers to minorities, such as the limited 15-day window given for people to apply in the latest job posting.

City Councilor Anthony Nolan said he had talked to Passero and was confident there were “actions at work right now to change actions of the past.” He said he was disappointed the job offers were rescinded to the three firefighters but was convinced the job offers were part of a “political game with the outgoing administration.”

Passero was not in attendance because Fields said the mayor was meeting with members of the NAACP in his office.

“The mayor is on board with the City Council. We do want to see a workforce that reflects the community,” Fields said.