Firefighting felons?
2 on Bridgeport hiring list
By AARON LEO
Connecticut Post
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
BRIDGEPORT — Two convicted felons are on the Fire
Department's hiring list, sparking criticism from a
firefighter group and several firefighter candidates.
But the Civil Service Commission, which allowed the
men to be listed, could reconsider this move at a special
meeting July 27 because new information about the two
candidates recently surfaced, said John C. Colligan, the
city's recently retired civil service director.
Colligan would not identify the two felons, but said
he opposed their addition to the hiring list. The notice
for the 2002 firefighter entrance exam had stated no one
with felony convictions would be appointed.
Barring felons has been a city Civil Service standard
since 1936, but is not required by an ordinance or the
city charter, Colligan said. However, felons cannot be
police officers because state law prohibits convicted
felons from carrying guns, he said.
The firefighter issue arose when nine people,
including the two felons, appealed to the Civil Service
Commission after Colligan refused to place them on the
list.
The commission overrode him at its June 8 meeting,
voting to place the felons on the hiring list out of
sympathy, Colligan said.
The city has not yet hired any new firefighters from
the list, which expires two years after the date of the
first hire.
Richard Albrecht, lawyer for the Bridgeport
Firefighters for Merit Employment, is also asking the
commission to reconsider its decision. The BFME's stated
goal is to ensure Civil Service rules are followed in
hiring and promotion.
In a June 22 appeal filed with the Civil Service
Office, Albrecht said the firefighter candidates with
felonies are untrustworthy and not qualified for the job.
"Trust between firefighters is an integral and
necessary part of the job," he said.
They also cannot be trusted to protect personal
property in buildings, and the job requires they
sometimes must enter while the owners are not there, he
contended.
"Although the Civil Service Commission may feel
compassion for certain individuals, or feel that they
want to give them a chance, such laudable motives should
not be involved in appointments to agencies in the public
safety sector," the BFME appeal states.
Albrecht said he also filed a request June 10 for the
candidates' identities to be revealed under the Freedom
of Information Act. The City Attorney's office is
considering it, Colligan said.
John Bolton and 18 other white firefighter candidates
are also protesting the decision.
Bolton complained to the City Council about the issue
at its meeting Tuesday.
The 19 have already filed two federal lawsuits against
numerous city officials and panels alleging violations of
their civil rights by reverse discrimination.
Lawyer Norman Pattis represents them in both suits,
which name a total of about 130 defendants.
The plaintiffs seek millions of dollars in damages and
want the list of more than 600 candidates thrown out.
They contend a prejudicial oral exam prevented them
from ranking higher in the 2002 entrance testing process,
among other allegations.
Aaron Leo, who covers regional issues, can be reached
at 330-6222.
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