The Chicago Sun-Times recently published an article highlighting the growing overtime costs within the Chicago Fire Department, which has led to the decision to hold the city's first firefighter entrance exam in eight years in 2014. However, the process will not align with the preferences of Alderman Nick Sposato, a former firefighter who believes that physical ability should be the primary factor in hiring new firefighters.
Sposato, representing the 36th Ward, argues that firefighting is a physically demanding job and that candidates should be hired based on their performance in a physical abilities test, provided they pass a basic written exam. He recalls that this method was used in 1978 and 1985—when he took the test himself—and no legal challenges arose from those exams. Yet, the upcoming exam will be structured differently. The written test will remain pass-fail, but those who pass will be assigned random numbers and called in that order as needed.
With overtime costs rising sharply—from $13.5 million in 2011 to $20 million in 2013 and projected to hit $35.3 million in 2014—the city is under pressure to hire more firefighters. However, the exact number of vacancies remains unclear. Once candidates arrive at the fire academy, physical fitness will come into play. They will undergo a background check, a drug test, and a physical abilities test—all of which are pass-fail. Only those who clear all three will be offered a spot in the next class.
Sposato is critical of the current system, calling it a “luck-of-the-draw†approach. He believes firefighters should be ranked by their physical performance. “In 1978 and 1985, guys who trained and worked hard were called first,†he said. “Those who didn’t train or work out got called later. That’s how it should be.†He suggests giving candidates time—three months, six months, or even a year—to prepare for the physical test, then ranking them accordingly.
Sposato admits he went into the 1985 physical abilities test unprepared and paid the price. “I got called eight years after I took the test. I deserved that because I didn’t train. My friends, who wanted it more and trained for months, were called first,†he recalled.
Some speculate that the city’s reluctance to prioritize physical performance may be linked to a costly legal settlement approved in September. Chicago paid nearly $2 million in compensation to dozens of women who were denied firefighter jobs due to a discriminatory physical abilities test, which the city has since eliminated. Legal fees added another $1.7 million to the total cost.
This shift in hiring strategy reflects a broader effort to address both the financial burden of overtime and the need for fair and effective recruitment practices. As the city moves forward, the debate over how best to evaluate and select future firefighters continues to unfold.
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