Judge Blocks FDNY From Hiring 300 Probies

Controversial Judge Nicholas Garaufis has dropped another depth charge on the FDNY, blocking the department from hiring 300 new firefighter recruits. Judge Garaufis has previosuly ruled that FDNY purposefully discriminated against minority applicants in its earlier tests. The proposed 300 new firefighters would have come from a brand new testing process.

In his latest decision he said the city offered no proof that the new test was free from discrimination or sufficiently job related to pass muster. Interestingly, 35% of the new class would have been minority candidates. However, under a previous order Judge Garaufis ruled that 3 of every 5 new hires be a minority as a remedy for past discrimination.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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