The newest Franklin firefighter is the second female firefighter in the city’s history, and the first in a while.
Diversity is a priority of the Franklin Fire Department, and one that is starting to come to fruition.
Casey Whitaker is not new to Franklin or public safety. She worked for Seals Ambulance Service since 2016, and was an EMT for nine years. In her new position, she takes a different ride and a different role at the same scenes she has responded to for years.
Mirroring the city
The step toward diversity is part of a city-wide effort to make the Franklin Fire Department look more like the city’s general population, said Matt Culp, Franklin’s fire chief.
To accomplish that, 24 more women and a few racial minorities would need to be hired for the crew of 48 full-time firefighters to mirror the city, the population of which is made up of 51% women and 5% racial minorities, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
“We are trying to be as proactive as possible,” Culp said. “We understand the demographics of Johnson County. At the very least, we would like to start mimicking that.”
It will be a years-long effort, Culp said. New firefighters are only hired when others retire or leave the city for other positions, which typically results in a few job openings a year, he said.
Culp says more diversity will help expose the department to different ways of thinking and new approaches that will benefit both the city and department. Without diversity, there can be blind spots or missed opportunities for growth, said Culp, who has taken steps in his first year as chief to develop a more diverse hiring pool for the upcoming cycle.
Per state law, firefighters are hired based on a shortlist of candidates that each department updates every two years, Culp said. The list includes individuals who have necessary state certifications and have passed department-specific written tests, physical fitness tests and character interviews.
Right now, the list includes just two female and two minority applicants. However, on the list developed four years ago, there were no female or minority candidates, he said.
Reaching out
To make improvements, Culp asked for help from local diversity experts and minority firefighter associations in Indianapolis. Their advice suggests the department should cast a wider net when advertising the upcoming hiring process, and offer more help to prepare applicants for that hiring process with tutoring materials, such as video study guides.
Tutoring is something that already happens, but on a small scale among local applicants, Culp said.
For example, Whitaker’s co-workers and mentors who work or have worked at the department helped her prepare for the tests, she said.
For potential candidates who don’t have a local connection, preparing for the tests isn’t easy. Advertising the tutoring should help level the playing field, and make the department appear more accessible, Culp said.
Outreach efforts could also help. Outreach hasn’t been possible in his first year as chief, but Culp hopes to do more at local schools, such as the Central Nine Career Center, once pandemic restrictions are lifted, he said.
As a Seals EMT, Whitaker was part of a small group of female employees assigned to Franklin. Right now, there are five females among the group of 14 on permanent assignment at fire stations throughout the city, Culp said.
Having worked with Franklin firefighters for four years, Whitaker fit right in with the guys, she said. The only difference is the gear she wears and her job duties at the scene.
Believing in herself
The new job is a dream come true.
Whitaker was well received by her new crew at Station 21, even as a new mom who is still breastfeeding, she said. Department leaders didn’t shy away from it. They asked what she needed and accommodated it, she said.
The mom of two had wanted to be a firefighter for years, but doubted she could do it. That is until her daughter, Evelyn, motivated her to chase that dream.
“One thing that got me into the fire service is my daughter. I have always wanted her to know that she could do anything. I was at a point in my life when I was a single mom and I didn’t think I could physically be a firefighter. In 2018, I decided to do it, not for myself but for my daughter,” Whitaker said.
She lost weight, studied and trained hard.
Last week, her dream became a reality, and Evelyn was there to witness it. She pinned a medal to her mom during the Franklin City Council meeting.
For Whitaker, the fire department’s diversity efforts are great and forward-looking. The issue is not unique to Franklin. At fire departments across the county, there are few women and racial minorities.
Friends across several departments encouraged Whitaker to pursue her goal whole-heartedly and forge a path for other women, she said.
“Believe in yourself; you can do it,” Whitaker said.
