Sylvan Lebrun, collaborating photographer
At a Municipal Affairs Committee meeting Monday night, 23 firefighters and city leaders testified regarding Mayor Justin Elicker’s request to reappoint Fire Chief John Alston. The split of support and opposition was 11 to 11, with “conflict”.
John Alston assumed his current role in December 2016. Elicker has now asked to be given another four-year term, which would last until January 31, 2026. During his tenure, Alston has worked to diversify the fire service of New Haven and refine recruitment. and training processes. In his opening remarks, he acknowledged that some changes he had made were “unpopular,” nodding to Local 825 — the firefighters’ union — opposing his nomination. According to the New Haven Independent, in a union poll, 128 firefighters voted against reinstating Alston, while only 31 voted for it.
The committee did not debate or vote on the reappointment, deferring it to the full Council of Alders for streamlined consideration.
“There are two things that firefighters don’t like: the way things are and change,” Alston said in his opening statement. “You hired me to change the culture of the department; to increase opportunities. It doesn’t happen overnight…change happens when people coming in have opportunities, when the playing field is leveled and the actions of me and my team have done it.
Alston’s remarks
In a nearly 45-minute speech to the committee, Alston described his accomplishments since taking over as fire chief – including an overhaul of the recruiting process, a new paramedic unit, a response program for young people who start fires and the implementation of technologies such as “tactical worksheets” — which identify broken fire hydrants — on tablet computers and apps.
He highlighted his efforts to increase diversity within the department, such as changing hiring practices and workplace training on diversity, equity and inclusion.
“As I studied the department before taking the helm, there seemed to be evidence of years of nepotism, favoritism and cronyism,” Alston said. He added that he had an “aggressive and effective recruiting program in place to ensure diversity, opportunity and a succession plan.”
The current class of incoming firefighters is the most diverse under his tenure, Alston said, both in terms of gender and race. The department has also worked to recruit speakers of different languages, including Spanish, to respond more effectively to calls in predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods. Statistics on diversity within the department are not publicly available.
Alston also highlighted his role in the firefighters’ COVID-19 response. In February 2020, before many Americans were fully aware of the impact of the pandemic, Alston “seated the staff … and played ‘what if'” to come up with contingency plans for how to continue to provide services in a safe manner. Amid the many waves of the pandemic, he said, the department never missed a single call.
Alston concluded his statement by acknowledging the “difficult and unpopular decisions” he made “in the best interests of the city.” The role of fire chief, he said, is “not a popular type of job”.
Questions from the committee
Alders at the committee meeting had the opportunity to ask Alston questions, pressing him on equipment expiration, fire station safety, community engagement measures and his plans to cope. to the recent increase in high-rise apartments.
Members who were present at his appointment hearing in 2016 or his contract renewal meeting in 2018 also asked him if he felt he had achieved his goals of improving department cohesion and morale. In response to Ward 12 Alder Gerald Antunes, Alston described his “open door policy” for firefighters hoping to talk to him about training or promotions.
Ward 4 Alder Evelyn Rodriguez asked Alston if the appliances and appliances for firefighters were “up to standard”, to which he replied that they were, but the problem was “not having enough”. He mentioned an incident with a faulty truck that he couldn’t get replaced for a while, which forced him to borrow a truck from the Hartford Fire Department.
Although he called this borrowing “standard practice”, it was one of the points of contention in subsequent speeches by local firefighters opposing its reappointment.
“Our fleet has been and continues to be decimated compared to Hartford, which has about 10 shop mechanics,” Lt. Ian Cordero of the Hill said. “We have three right now, and that’s what led us to borrow devices from different cities… That never happened in this department – we were usually the city that provided the devices to the others. However, due to poor planning, we find ourselves in a very bad situation.
The number of out-of-service fire hydrants in the city was another point raised by both the alders and the testimonies. Ward 1 Alder Alex Guzhnay ’24 asked how many faulty hydrants were acceptable in New Haven, to which Alston replied “none”, attributing the current high numbers to the department’s reduced budget and difficulties coordinating with contractors of repair.
Lt. Kenneth Huls of Engine 15 in Westville, who is also a member of the Local 825 executive, said there were more than 100 fire hydrants out of service in the town, including 21 in his own district. “People in this town shouldn’t have to worry about whether the fire hydrant closest to their house is in working order,” he said, before mentioning how it hinders the Alston’s stated goal of getting water to the fires sooner.
“Morale has never been so bad”: firefighters testify
The deaths of two New Haven firefighters in 2021 – Ricardo Torres and William McMillian, with Torres passing in the line of duty – was another topic at the hearing, as concerns were raised that Alston n hadn’t done enough to provide support.
“I understand that you have something in place for bereavement due to COVID, but what has happened since the tragic moment to address our grieving brothers and sisters?” asked Ward 3 Alder Ron Hurt.
Alston responded by listing post-death counseling sessions and an anonymous comment system, noting that there was still “anger” in the department.
When Hurt then pressed him to find out if anything was being done at the moment to help firefighters heal, he said “no, no one reached out to say it was a problem”.
“Ricardo Torres was a huge, huge individual in my life since I was a kid, he’s my family,” firefighter Neftali Ortiz said. “Seeing the Chief not reach out to an individual who means so much to Ricardo and to the current family hurts personally… I see his absence from the fire stations. I see his lack of leadership.
Ortiz went on to mention that after a recent promotion, he took a four-day course and was only taught by one chef – he was told Alston would attend the sessions, but he “didn’t never presented”. He expressed his desire for Alston to be more proactive in training the department’s young leaders and in preventing future tragedies after the recent deaths.
Firefighter Scotte Pullen, who opposed the reappointment, said “morale has never been worse”, complaining of “bullying tactics” in the department and the dilapidated state of barracks and apparatus.
Alston’s supporters discussed his involvement in the city, his commitment to increasing diversity in the department and his openness to feedback.
“I’ve seen Alston at more civic functions than I’ve seen in 20 years. I’ve seen more people who look like me promoted to leadership positions than I’ve seen in 20 years,” Douglas Wardlaw said. , supervisor of fire investigations in the Office of the Fire Marshal “People have the opportunity to talk to him, to learn from him, to take advantage of his very open door policy, when former chiefs don’t even allow us not to call the third floor.”
Wardlaw urged the Alders to give Alston a chance to “finish what he’s committed to doing in the city.”
Boise Kimber, who served as fire department commissioner for five years, said many of the issues raised on Monday night – such as malfunctioning equipment and hydrants – could be resolved by the Board of Alders and the mayor with increased funding.
Kimber also said Local 825 “has never attacked a white leader under my direction or anyone else’s direction,” hinting at possible racial motives behind the union’s fierce opposition.
Guzhnay told the News that the Alders knew before the hearing that there would be strong opposition to the nomination. However, he noted that many of the issues raised regarding Alston’s tenure relate not just to his leadership, but to larger issues with the city’s budget.
“I took notes during this testimony, to follow up on other things that I thought maybe weren’t as directly related to the chief, but rather something that you know, the Board of Alders could do better,” Guzhnay said. “My colleagues are also considering that as well…those that are more about infrastructure and other areas that need work, especially around devices.”
The New Haven Fire Department was established in 1862.
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