HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0346.009 1996-1998
- ,Tune 17, 1997
Greetings Council Memebers~
Before I give my statement I want you to know that ~~"~0°p~}o~ ar~d not
necessarily based on evidence that is available to present.C~dence is very
COUN71'v,= ~~f~,~~
difficult to rather because of the intrinsic nature of the subject, o r~
my opinion is based on observations of events over the years of my service as a
firefighter both here and on the mainland.
Tne promotional process in the Hawaii Fire Department seems to me to have
become a political reward appointment rather than an unbaised selection based on
national standards of excellence and effectiveness. Time after times over the
years we firefighters have seen political sicophants promoted over higher qualified
candidates. this political criteria selection process is so obvious and blatant
that correct lists o£ ranked candidates can be seen at most fire sations long
before the oral interviews are given. Tnese lists are made on the bais of who
worked the hardest on some politician's political campaign or who was most enthusias-
tic at the chief's last favorite charity drive or who is best connected by family
to the chief or mayor. All the political poini;s are then added and the list made
from the highest scores.
Those who stay out of politics and simply do their jobs well and study in
good faith the nationally recognized curriculum for the position that they seek
are not seen at the top of the lists official or unofficial. They are seen as
the "also rans".
~~Tliat has happened to the Hawaii Fire Department over the years is that it has
become an organization that serves the political needs of the mayor and fire chief
in power very well and public's need fo^ fire protection and sevice not so well.
Further; our members are divided into camps of supporters of political candidates
incumbants and those who still wish only to devote their time and efforts tywyo~wa_rd~q
better serving the public in their times of need. (iomoL DTa 1Y •V J
F1b 210.
Rel. 20~
Rer. Date '~!N 2 n 1897
The current cheating scandals in both the Hawaii F~.re Department and the
Hawaii Police Department only gives one a clue as to the very severe internal
organizational deterioration that is happening, It is very difficult to take
orders from a superior who is inferior and everyone knows the truth.
the troops aint happy. Many members have simply lost all hope o£ ever being
promoted or seeing fair and impartial treatment by promotional review boards.
Those that did study and tried their best to r,.eet national standards have stopped
their efforts, Those that prostituted themselves and their integrity in the pol-
itical arena have i:b ,.eason at all to study or better t~Lemseives oecause it as
a waste uc tame ana not the road to suucess.
1ne solution to all this as very sample. we must place the entire testing
and ran~ung process in the hands of the Civil Service, As it is now we have a
political spoils systems nepotism and a good-old-boy system. We all know it.
;!e just have troulbe proving it in a court of law.
The National FS.re Protecti:n Association has set standanis and criteria that
are natioanlly recognized for each rank in the fire service. There are tests
available to the Civil Services both written and orals that reflect those
standards and criteria. The Civil Service must demand that each candidate for
each rank meet those criteria before they are even elligible to take a promotional
test. The tests must be kept secured at the Civil Service. They must be rotated in
their use (don't use the same test each time) and revised and updated.
Oral interviews if retained in the process must not just be another written
test-just spoken. It should evaluate the person. How does the candidate solve
problems How well can the person handle personnel managements supervisions and
disciplinary problems? Is the candidate ethical and have integrity? Is the person
on example of the pk~sical fitness needed and desired of the position? Can the person
handle stress and still function? Can the person delegate authority?
Y1e must keep the politics out of the promotional selection process or
somewhere doom the roads when you really need helps a person vri11 come to your door
who is unqualified to do anything but wave poitical signs and help at fund raisers.
Has this already happened perhaps?
I aslc you to reform the current system-not just study it. There are lives
depending on how you act. Pleases don't play political games with Fire.
Respectfully Submitted
\C7~~ ~~~~~~N/~
Tom Beach
885-6907 Home ?hone