Evening star., 1948-06-10
CityHeadsAdopt
ChangeinR Rules
For Firemen
Ineffieiency Defined,
Promotions Possible
Without Examination

The District Commissioners to-
day adopted amendments to the
regulations governing Fire Depart
nent personnel which, among other
things, give a definition of "inef-
ficiency" and set up board Of ap-
peal for firemen dissatisfied with
their efficiency ratings.
Also changed was a regulation
which required all promotions In
the Fire Department to the position
of captain and below to be made on
the basis of competitive examina-
tions prescribed by the Civil Serv-
ice Commission. This brings the
fire regulations into line with ac-
tual practice under which "out OF
line promotions" have been made in
the Fire Department through agree
ment between the Commissioners
and the Civil Service Commission
1t was explained these out-of-line
promotions occasionally are neces-
sary in unusual circumstances such
as Wheen colored officers are to be
promoted to fill vacancies in the
colored fire companies. In such a
case the colored officer in question
may be far down the Civil Service
list and must be jumped over other
department officers in order to take
the promotion.
Agreement Long Effective.
The working agreement between
the Commissioners and the Civil
Service Commission for these out
of-line promotions has been.in ef-
feet for a number of years.
The amendments approved today
we're first submitted to the Com
missioners by Fire Chief Clement
Murphy in August, 1916. They
were referre dto the corporation
counsel's Office for study, but no
report was forthcoming until Dam
lei B. Mahre, special assistant cor
poration, took over the job In
February.
A definition of inefficiency was
not included in the old regulations.
The new rule provides that If a
fireman is convicted by trial board
threeor more times within year he
will be presumed inefficient. His
commanding officer would then be
required to cite him on the in
efficiency charge and he would have
to go before the trial board again.
Board of Three Provided.
1t was explained that his new
regulation could be used for weed
Ing out" undesirable men who were
guilty of number of minor in
fractions of the rules but nothing
serious enough to warrant dismissal.
The new Board of Rating Appeal
would consist of three Fire Depart
ment officers above lieutenant. They
would hear complaints of firemen
who were dissatisfied with their
efficiency ratings and make a report
and recommendation to Chief Muir
ply for final action.
Previously fremen who thought
they had been marked too low could
appeal only to the fire chief.
Another major change to the
present regulations would relax the
requirement. requiring the fire chief
to respond in person to all second
alarms. The new rule would let the
chief respond and assume command
at such fires or other emergencies as
necessity requires
Other Changes Listed.
The thought behind this change
was that in actual practice many
secondary alarms are precautionary
only and 1t was believed that 1t
should be left to the decision OF
the fire chief as to what constitutes
an alarm serious enough to warrant
his presence. The deputy chiefs are
expected to notify him when such
serious condition exists.
Other changes to the regulations
included:
Provision for trial board action
against a fireman awaiting trial for
criminal offense before he goes
on trial in the civil courts. Prevl-
ously, the regulations said nothing
about this point.
A rule that the fire chief should
inspect all units only once a year
instead of each six months as pre-
viously required.
A provision allowing members OF
the Fire Departments Board of
Surgeons to live in the Metropolitan
Area. instead of only in the District.
Other members of the department
already are permitted to live in the
area.
Old Rule Is Repealed.
Removed an old rule which pro-
hjbited affiliation with an organ
ization which uses the strike as a
means to enforce its demands. This
old rule was based on a statute
which subsequently was repealed
and merely brings the fire regula-
tions into line with present statutes.
A rule which requires battalion
chiefs to attend a full two-hour
weekly drill period of units under
their commandsdn order to empha-
size the importance Of the drills.
Previously they were required to
supervise only a portion of the
drills.