The Virginian-Pilot
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CHESAPEAKE
Monday's Supreme Court decision about promotional exams in a Connecticut fire department will not affect the way Chesapeake handles tests for advancement, the city's attorney said.
Chesapeake voided exam results in the fall that left no women or blacks in the running for promotions to police sergeant or lieutenant. The city later reinstated them after a consultant found the tests were not discriminatory.
In the case that reached the Supreme Court, a group of New Haven, Conn., firefighters claimed that they were racially discriminated against when the city threw out exam results because no blacks had scored high enough to qualify for promotions.
The justices, voting 5-4, agreed, saying that New Haven improperly used race as a basis for their decision.
Mike Imprevento, an attorney for the Chesapeake Coalition of Police, said he was in touch with lawyers involved with the New Haven case because the events surrounding it were similar to those in Chesapeake.
When Chesapeake officials voided the exam results, they cited reasons in addition to a lack of racial and gender diversity among the top test-takers. That included additional time given to complete one of the exams.
The city put the exam results on hold and paid a consultant about $14,000 to review them. In January, the consultant found that there was no racial bias in the test.
Imprevento argued that the city acted solely on race from the beginning.
"Those are not, in my opinion, sound personnel decisions, and the U.S. Supreme Court proved that," he said. "We believe that the decision is extremely important, and we intend to learn from it and be ever vigilant to protect the rights of the police and firemen I represent."
Chesapeake Attorney Ronald Hallman said that the city would continue to validate its exams.
"If a test is given and no minorities or women are on the list, we still would have concerns about whether the test caused that," he said.
Bloomberg News contributed to this story.
Kristin Davis, (757) 222-5208, kristin.davis@pilotonline.com
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equal opportunity
It has been proven a number of times through our history that people are equal no matter of sex or race. The tusgegy (sp) airman of WWII, women in politics and industry. The President of the United States and the diversity in Congress. Come on. All this is, is proof that the fear of racism lies solely with the individuals questioning themselves. The ones using the racism or sexism complaint are the lazy ones that want something for nothing. Those who apply themselves, study, workout, and prepare themselves are the ones cheated out of what they deserve because of a fear that really does not exist. The tests are equaly based, study matterials are availible to all that want to apply themselves. Do we want to put someone in a leadership position becuase of their sex or race, or someone that has prepaired themselves to make decissions on the drop of a dime. These lawsuits are frivilous and a waist of government funds and time. Just becuase someone does not want to study. The thing that is disturbing is the Lawyers that take these cases.
Show us
I would be interested in seeing a sample of what was on the test. That would help to be able to make a better judgement on this. I mean obviously, we want to have someone who is responsible for saving lives to have certain level of intelligence.
Comment and Question
The comment by the City of Chesapeake Attorney is not truthful. The main basis for voiding the test was because the city did not like the results. I agree if not one woman or minority passed the test then there is cause for concern and review. However, this was not the case because women and minorities did pass the test,but may have not been in the top 10 or 15 scores.
I wonder if the same test is given next year and no white males make the top list will the city pay another $14,000 to a firm to make sure the test is not bias. Would it happen?