New York Post – by Susan Edelman
An FDNY recruit is getting a third chance to pass the training academy after collecting top firefighter pay for a year in desk jobs, sources told The Post.
Choeurlyne Doirin-Holder, 39 — one of four women among 320 current probies in training — failed midway through a Fire Academy class in 2013, and returned to her former job as an EMT.
After entering another class in early 2014, she dropped out because of an injury. But the FDNY kept Doirin-Holder on payroll.
She made $81,376, including overtime, last year — about $26,000 more than the $55,144 she made as an EMT in 2013, records show. Most probies get starting firefighter pay of $39,370.
The FDNY did not assign Doirin-Holder to two subsequent academy classes. She worked desk jobs first at headquarters, then on Randalls Island.
“She was qualified as an EMT. She should have been serving the public while waiting for the next probie class, but was paid as a full-time firefighter to do office work and train on the payroll,” a high-ranking source said.
A year ago, a classmate called Doirin-Holder “the most pathetic specimen of physical fitness I’ve ever seen,” saying she failed to run a required 1.5 miles in 12 minutes, stopping to walk, and got winded walking up stairs.
Doirin-Holder gets top firefighter pay, a base $76,488 after five years, because she is one of 282 “priority hires” who Brooklyn federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis ordered must get preference.
Two other female priority hires in Doirin-Holder’s first academy class, now ages 41 and 44, did well, sources said. They passed the Functional Skills Test, or FST, a tough obstacle course of tasks such as climbing six flights of stairs in full gear and dragging dummies.
Doirin-Holder declined to comment, referring questions to the FDNY.
“We don’t discuss individuals or individual cases while in the academy,” said spokesman Jim Long.
Doirin-Holder now stands to benefit from the FDNY’s newly watered-down standards, critics said.
In a July 7 letter to firefighter union president Steve Cassidy, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro denied that standards have been lowered. But he confirmed that probies no longer have to pass the grueling FST if they do well on academics and practical skills, or individual tasks.
Last May, the FDNY graduated probie Rebecca Wax, 33, the first to fail the FST.
In another change, probies who fail the 1.5 mile run can demonstrate adequate aerobic capacity on a Stairmaster machine, Nigro said.
http://nypost.com/2015/07/26/fdny-recruit-failed-her-way-into-81000-desk-job/
Er last name is holder. Anyone surprised. What effing filthy lying hore. I used to look up to the fdny as a firefighter but now/a while now that I’ve scene what a waste they are and the pay they get for the sh!t they don’t do.
This really makes me sick.
If you don’t pass the fitness requirements for any tests, you don’t qualify. Sorry this job isn’t for you..plain and simple..if you fail come back next year stronger. That’s a lesson in life.
Personally I would not be anywhere around this HACK..wana be..that’s all she is a HACK. A looser the system let in..a looser whose going to get someone killed. Fire fighting is a high risk job, that has high standard of pay for a high standard of fitness PERIOD. nothing in between.
Being a Retired Firefighter myself. I know what I did to pass and maintain myself throughout my 23 year career..
This is truly disgusting. If you live in this district, I would DEMAND that these types of unqualified people be removed from their positions and replaced with someone stronger and smarter who can do the job properly. PERIOD ENOUGH SAID.
Next year’s recruiting schedule requirements are 20 illegal,z.
Hmm….what else does she do?
holder , could it be a relative of eric ?
It’s a dang shame, and more widespread problem than just this example in the article. In the ‘business’ world, I’ve seen many examples of individuals in positions that they should not have been, for various reasons. Some were there simply by being at the right place and time, and the need to fill a position. Many overstated their experience and/or intelligence. Now combine the previous with large egos, cronyism, corruption, and greed. It doesn’t take long after meeting so many to imagine what is wrong in the world.