14 Connecticut firefighters in landmark reverse discrimination case have promotions approved

Conn. firefighters promoted after court fight

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The 14 Connecticut firefighters who won a reverse discrimination case in a landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court have had their promotions approved by New Haven’s Board of Fire Commissioners.

A formal promotion ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 10.

Matt Marcarelli, who earned the top score on the captain’s exam in 2003 and assumed his new rank on Tuesday, says the action by the board was historic. The board approved the promotions after another city board certified the results of the 2003 exam that was at the center of the legal dispute.

Thirteen white city firefighters and one Hispanic firefighter were promoted to lieutenants and captains. They were among the firefighters who sued after the city threw out of the test results because too few minorities would have been promoted.

Information from: New Haven Register, www.nhregister.com