Gadsden lifts age caps on new police, fire department hires

The City of Gadsden is putting out a message: Police officers and firefighters wanted, the mature and experienced need apply.

The Civil Service Board in a unanimous vote on July 18 approved a request by Mayor Craig Ford to lift the age cap on new police and fire department hires.

That cap for applicants had been under 46 years old for police and under 40 for fire.

“This seemed like a no-brainer to me,” Ford said in a news release from the city. “We have dozens of unfilled police and firefighter slots, and you’re telling me if someone is 40 or 46 years old and wants to work for the City of Gadsden, they can’t even apply?

“In today’s time, there are 60-year-olds who are in better shape, with more life experience and better judgment than many 30-year-olds,” the mayor said.

Ford said Director of City Services Tena King, his liaison to the police department, and Chief of Staff Brett Johnson, his liaison to the fire department, have worked with Police Chief Lamar Jaggears and Fire Chief Wil Reed since November to identify new opportunities to improve recruiting efforts.

They found that the hiring age restriction was linked to the city’s previous local retirement plan for those departments, which was changed long ago.

Their research concluded that the hiring age restrictions were related to the city’s previous local retirement plan for police and fire, which was changed decades ago.

“This simple rule change is one more way to expand our pool of first responder applicants in Gadsden,” Ford said. “In fact, we already have an additional APOST certified police officer who can go through the hiring process and a new certified paramedic who can apply to become a firefighter in Gadsden.”

New police or fire hires must pass physical fitness tests, professional psychological evaluations, medical evaluations, drug tests and other evaluations, regardless of their age.

“If an individual is willing, able, and can pass the tests to protect and serve our city, I will be the first to welcome them with open arms,” Ford said.

While police and fire are under the mayor’s direction, the Civil Service Board governs personnel matters, maintaining rules on hiring, seniority, selection of the police and fire chiefs, and more.

Those interested in applying for either department can visit cityofgadsden.com/Jobs or contact the city’s Human Resources Department in person at its office on the second floor of City Hall, or by phone at 256-549-4550.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden removes age caps on police and fire hires