Terminated Fire Cadets accuse FDNY of bait and switch

Key Takeaways:

• Several Cadets say they were forced to become EMTs or leave the department
• FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker says reclassification was necessary
• Former Commissioner Laura Kavanagh criticizes the decision as avoidable
• At least 15 graduates who could not complete EMS requirements were terminated
• The Fire Cadet program was designed to diversify the ranks of the FDNY

Cadets’ Unexpected Terminations

They spent two years in the FDNY’s Fire Cadet program, learning the skills and discipline needed to become New York City firefighters. But for at least 15 of these cadets, the pathway they thought was secure led to a sudden standstill. “It was either become an EMT, or resign,” said former Cadet Shamar Greene. “We never signed up to be EMTs.”

A Rushed Reclassification

Shortly before their two-year contracts ended, FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker decided to change the cadets’ titles to EMS Trainee. Some cadets said they received letters terminating their positions after failing exams or not completing medical clearances under tight deadlines. “We had two weeks to do a whole medical process that usually takes 3 months,” Greene added.

According to the FDNY, 15 cadets were issued termination letters despite having graduated the program. Meanwhile, 68 cadets complied with the reclassification and met the new requirements, with 45 of them already transitioning back to the fire service through the October Fire Academy class.

FDNY Leadership’s Perspective

Tucker argues that the action was necessary because the initial timeline for the Fire Cadet program did not align with any upcoming Fire Academy class. Allowing the cadets’ contracts to expire completely, he says, could have ended all their prospects. “If we’re talking about one or two individuals who fit in that category,” Tucker said, “then it’s possible we could have done better. But what I am tasked with as the 35th New York City Fire Commissioner is dealing with the totality of the Department.”

Former Commissioner’s Critique

Laura Kavanagh, the former Fire Commissioner who launched the Cadet class in 2023, says the ensuing disruptions were wholly avoidable and that the program had contingencies to prevent such gaps. “I worry the commissioner was misled by a small group in the FDNY who never wanted these cadets to succeed. For the sake of these cadets and the future of the FDNY, I hope he revisits the decision.”

Diversity at Stake

Key to the mission of the Fire Cadet program was to recruit more people of color into the FDNY’s ranks. Current department data shows that about 62% of New York’s firefighters are white, while 2020 Census numbers place the city’s white population at around 31%. By establishing a dedicated two-year program, the FDNY hoped to expand opportunities for those who might otherwise face challenges in the traditional competitive hiring track.

Cadets’ Next Steps

For Greene and others, the unexpected terminations sparked uncertainty. “I’m still confused about it because I don’t know where my life is going,” said one cadet who watched his chance at the Fire Academy slip away. Some are weighing legal action or appealing to city officials to reconsider their cases. “I’ve wanted this since I was a kid,” said terminated Cadet Juan Osorno. “That was my whole dream, and it’s still my dream.”

In the end, whether the FDNY’s reclassification strategy truly made “lemonade out of lemons,” as Commissioner Tucker claims, remains up for debate. The terminated cadets are hoping for another chance to fulfill the promise they believe was made to them—and to step into the ranks of New York City’s Bravest.