Selection Process “Completely Fair” … So It Must Be Changed

According to Baltimore Fire Chief William J. Goodwin Jr., the procedures used to select the next entering class or fire fighters were “absolutely fair.” The recruiting and hiring process, he affirmed, “was completely fair and above board.” And, he added, “the process will be changed immediately.”

The problem is that the successful applicants turned out to be all white, despite the fact that, according to the chief, the test used “was supposed to be one least adversely impacting minorities.”

Say What? (5)

  1. Laura May 1, 2004 at 11:47 pm | | Reply

    “the test used ‘was supposed to be one least adversely impacting minorities.'”

    How about using a test that best selects competent firemen?

  2. Mick May 2, 2004 at 2:01 am | | Reply

    This is acutely painful for me as I was passed over for a firefighter position in order that the force be more ‘diverse’. You’d be shocked at just how far down the list they had to go in order to achieve diversity. At least two standard deviations.

  3. Richard Nieporent May 2, 2004 at 1:59 pm | | Reply

    I really can

  4. KRM May 2, 2004 at 6:27 pm | | Reply

    We certainly can’t have hiring based on merit and competency, can we? That just seems wrong.

  5. Mike May 3, 2004 at 10:02 am | | Reply

    Scary. Having been involved in a fire in the city of Baltimore (back in 97), I owe a debt of gratitude to the city’s bravest. I find it difficult to believe that these statements about the test are justified only because no black applicants were accepted. If there was ever a job where you should accept only the most qualified individual, this would be it.

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