|
CHICOPEE - The city has requested two civil service lists in order to fill several vacancies in the Police and Fire Departments. Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette said yesterday that he hopes to schedule interviews as soon as the lists are received to fill as many as 12 police vacancies and 15 firefighter vacancies. He said the numbers may fluctuate depending on how many city officers decide to return to the Springfield Department. The rest of the vacancies in both departments are due to normal attrition, planned retirements, or disability retirements. "We want to begin the interview process but, obviously, we need to get a better handle on how many officers may be going," said the mayor. "The last thing I want to do is do cutbacks on public safety." Chief John R. Ferraro Jr. said he plans to meet with the mayor to discuss how many officers plan to return to Springfield. The chief said he has a commitment from about six who plan to stay, but needs additional information. The issue arose late last year when former Springfield Police Commissioner Edward A. Flynn said the city would hire 23 officers to bolster its force. Meanwhile, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has made public safety one of his main goals, pledging to add 50 officers to the force.
"We are also looking for additional funds and grants to hire more officers," said Bissonnette. Last September, the three newest Chicopee officers graduated in a class of 35 from the Western Massachusetts Police Academy in Springfield. Fire Chief Stephen S. Burkott said the vacancies have arisen from normal retirements and disability retirements, as well as some pending this year. "We may have an additional three to four retirements in the coming year," although that number is not yet firm, he said. The fire chief said he would like to hire as many firefighters as possible who are already trained as emergency medical technicians. "We are desperately in need of EMTs and medics," Burkott said. "The simple fact is that we are very short-handed when it comes to medics. We could put them to work right away, but if we have to train them, we will not be able to get them into an EMT class until September." One city firefighter, laid off from the Springfield Fire Department, has already returned there. The Fire Department's complement is 143, including 128 firefighters, and the Police Department's complement is 102, with 97 patrolmen. Plans to begin interviewing new firefighters were put on hold late last year as the city obtained some clarity regarding the ambulance service and the implementation of 24-hour shifts. They were started this month as part of a two-year pilot program. |
