Monday, December 28, 2015

Woman who failed FDNY physical test 6 times gets another chance

Woman who failed FDNY physical test 6 times gets another chance | New York Post:
A woman who six times failed the physical test to become an FDNY firefighter is being given another chance — and this time, critics say, the fix is in.
“She’ll graduate, no question,” said an FDNY member. 
“The department does­n’t want another black eye.”
Wendy Tapia was allowed to conditionally graduate from the Fire Academy on May 17, 2013, even though she had failed the running test.
After swearing her in, the FDNY gave Tapia five more chances to run the required 1.5 miles in 12 minutes or less, but she couldn’t do it. 
She quit — never having worked a tour of duty.
Now Tapia, 34, is getting yet another chance to join The Bravest.
She’s among a group of emergency medical technicians promoted to probationary firefighters and set to start the 18-week training academy Monday.
Tapia’s return comes as the FDNY has quietly eased its standards to ­admit more women.
...Lt. Elizabeth Osgood, who objected to Tapia’s special treatment, was barred from promotion for months.
Capt. Paul Mannix, the president of Merit Matters, a group opposed to quotas, was forced into silence.
Reached by phone last week, Tapia hung up on a reporter.
FDNY spokesman Jim Long refused to comment on Tapia, but said, “All who enter the academy must meet the same requirements in order to graduate.”

No comments: