Boston proposes cadet program to increase fire department's diversity

BOSTON — The City of Boston is examining a cadet program for the fire department, with the goal of increasing diversity.

A local veterans group, however, says the program could discriminate against people who’ve served in the military.

The Boston Police Department reinstated its cadet program last year. The fire department has never had one, so city councilors are asking for a hearing to examine if it's possible.

According a 2015 Boston workforce report, 72 percent of the employees of the fire department are white.

The police cadet program is essentially a two-year training program for Boston youth interested in becoming police officers. The city council is looking to see if a similar program in the fire department could help fix the issues in that workforce report.

Massachusetts Veterans Military Alliance spokesperson Michael Devin says that could take jobs away from those who have served.

“The whole point of the cadet program is to circumnavigate away from the civil service," said Devin. “It's a way to hire individuals that aren't necessarily the most qualified."

To that point, the group sent a letter to city officials saying in part, “cadet programs can be a source of political patronage that benefits individuals based on connections to elected officials, rather than on merit and skill.”

Mayor Marty Walsh told FOX25 he's not ready to green light anything. He is interested in what the city council learns through its hearings.

“This is not a way to circumvent anything. This is a way to create opportunities,” said Walsh.

One of the city councilors who called for a hearing on this, Andrea Campbell sent an email to FOX25 Monday. She said this is in no way to eliminate the civil service veteran preference. She just wants the city to examine all tools to increase diversity.

Councilor Bill Linehan sent the following statement to FOX25:

I've supported Veteran's services my entire public and private life. For me to pursue a program which would give Boston's young people a chance to be a Boston firefighter does not seem mutually exclusive to Veteran's preference.

Having worked in City government for over 30 years, I believed and worked toward creating real opportunities for our young aspiring residents.

Veterans preference is vital to create a life for our returning veterans. But, the BFD should not be exclusive to only those who have served.

We need to bring folks together, discuss ways in which a program fashioned after the Police Cadet Program can work.

Cox Media Group