Extinguishing criminal firefighter candidates

Screening potential volunteer firefighters for criminal offenses is now mandated by New York State as Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law on Aug. 4 stating that new applicants, as well as veteran firefighters, must submit to a background check for any prior sex offense convictions.
Previously, volunteer fire departments screened mostly for arson convictions, and misdemeanors and felonies.
The law requires that candidates of a fire company authorize the background check if they expect to proceed with their applications, and would allow the individual fire companies to determine if an applicant would still be eligible to become a member if that person is discovered to have a sex offense conviction.
Cuomo believes that since these firefighters encounter children while carrying out their duties, more accountability is needed. “Firefighters are often in a position where they serve and protect vulnerable members of their communities—which is why it is imperative that our volunteer firefighter organizations are staffed with highly qualified and dedicated individuals,” he said in a prepared statement. “By allowing these groups to screen for sexual offenders and remove any individuals who have been convicted of sexual offenses, we are supporting some of our most important local volunteer groups and taking a strong step toward having safer communities across the state.”
Checking firefighters for arson convictions was passed as law in 1992. Since then it has been highly effective, according to James Burns, the president of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York.
“This legislation protects the trust between the volunteer fire service and the public by prohibiting registered sex offenders from being members of volunteer fire companies and volunteer ambulance companies,” Burns said.