After 14 years of fighting with the city over denied promotions, the New Haven Fire Department is promoting 26 captains and 34 lieutenants Friday night.
The city is also adding 25 new firefighters, and New Haven Fire Chief Allyn Wright believes it's history in the making.
"This is somewhat of a unique situation that’s going to happen tonight because we’re going to have half of our recruit class graduate along with the lieutenants and the captains who are going to be promoted," Wright explained.
New Haven has been denied firefighter promotions several times over the past few years. In the 2009 Ricci vs. New Haven case, a court found that the city was guilty of reverse discrimination after failing to promote white firefighters.
"Over time, it’s been out of control and the only way you can start taking care of that as far as declining is adding people," said Wright.
With fewer employees, firefighters racked up overtime.
An amendment was added to save the city the $6 million in overtime costs and cover 13 lieutenant and 12 captain vacancies.
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Wright said filling the positions will boost morale at the department.
"They want to grow, they want to become officers, with that said, they also take on more responsibility as being officers," said Wright.
More responsibility means the officers will be in charge of at least four people. Wright also plans to have battalion chief and deputy chief exams to have those slots filled.
