Municipal Fire Police Civil Service Board Meeting - February 23, 2026

The Municipal Fire Police Civil Service Board met on February 23, 2026, at 10:00 AM (recess at 10:14, reconvened at 10:20) to handle routine personnel actions, call for examinations, review test results, and conduct a public hearing on proposed classification changes. The meeting concluded with several approvals, one tabling, and an amended agenda item.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Agenda – Motion by Mr. Lemming, second by Mr. Bayrow. Approved without objection.
• Approval of Minutes – Approved minutes from November 24, 2025, and December 23, 2025. Motion by Mr. Barrow (who mistakenly referenced December 24, 2025), second by Mr. Lemming. Approved without objection.
• Personnel Action Forms – Approved fire and police department personnel action forms. Motion by Mr. Barrow, second by Mr. Lemming. Approved without objection.
• Call for Examinations (Fire Department) – Approved call for examinations for Fire Inspector 1, Fire Communications Officer 2, and Fire Communications Officer 3. Motion by Mr. Lemming, second by Mr. Ricks. Approved without objection.
• Call for Examinations (Police Department) – Approved call for examination for Police Fingerprint Technician 1. Motion by Mr. Barrow, second by Mr. Lemming. Approved without objection.
• Accept Test Results (Fire Department) – Approved test results for multiple positions (Chief Fire Safety Officer, Fire Public Information Officer, Assistant Chief Training Officer, Chief Fire Communications Officer, Assistant Chief Fire Communications Officer, Chief Fire Investigator, Chief Training Officer, Training Officer). Totals: 12 passed, 0 did not pass, 1 did not show. Motion by Mr. Ricks, second by Mr. Lemming. Approved without objection.
• Accept Test Results (Police Department) – Approved test results for Police Sergeant and Police Fingerprint Technician 1. Results: 27 passed, 3 did not pass. Motion by Mr. Barrow (moved to approve), second by Mr. Bayrow. Approved without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jake Morgan (President, Baton Rouge Firefighters Association) – Opposed proposed classification changes requiring Officer 1 certification for fire captain, arguing the requirement should remain as a policy, not be placed in civil service. He stated that the certification is already required by fire chief policy and that placing it in civil service would transfer record-keeping responsibility to the board.
• Mike Patanostro (Captain, Baton Rouge Fire Department) – Opposed making certification a part of the promotional process, citing concerns about seniority-based rights, equal access, and unequal opportunity to obtain certifications. He argued the certification is not a civil service exam and would delegate control of promotions to an external process.
• Corey Artita (Firefighter, Baton Rouge Fire Department) – Opposed the timing of the certification requirement, noting that firefighters with 18-20 years of experience now face new hurdles just before expected promotions. He questioned why only the lowest-ranked positions (firefighter, equipment operator, captain) are targeted and suggested that if changes are made, they should apply across all ranks, starting from the top.
• Daniel Weimer (Firefighter, Baton Rouge Fire Department) – Opposed imposing Officer 1 and Instructor 1 certifications for fire captain, arguing that suppression division experience (typically 20 years) should be valued over a 40-hour certificate. He pointed out that other divisions within the fire department have no similar certification requirements for promotions.
• Michael Kimmel (Fire Chief, Baton Rouge Fire Department) – Supported the certification requirement, explaining it aims to bring the department to national standards. He noted that 64 individuals have taken the Officer 1 exam with 60 passing and that training is now offered on-duty. He acknowledged that a certification does not make a good firefighter but believes it protects firefighters and meets national standards. He then withdrew the request to add certification to the classification plan, stating he would instead keep it as a department policy.

Discussion Items

• Agenda Item 11 – Public Hearing on Classification Changes – The board conducted a public hearing to consider proposed classification changes for Firefighter, Fire Equipment Operator, and Fire Captain. After public testimony, board members discussed the appropriateness of embedding certification requirements into civil service rules versus keeping them as departmental policy. Board member Ricks expressed concern that the requirement would shift control of promotions to an external body and away from the civil service system. The fire chief withdrew his request. The board then voted to table the item.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda Amendment – The board amended the agenda to add a new item (12) to reject an application from Destiny Joseph for Police Fingerprint Technician 1, who had applied outside the posting period. The amendment was approved by roll call vote (4-0, with Mr. Sterling not voting? Actually all present voted yes: Newville, Riggs, Bayra, Lemming – 4 yes, no nays. Motion by the chair, second by Mr. Ricks).
• Rejection of Cadet Application – Under agenda item 7, the board rejected the cadet application of Alysia Hamilton because there was no open posting period at the time of her application. Motion by Mr. Barrow, second by Mr. Ricks. Approved without objection.
• Rejection of Fingerprint Technician Application – Under the amended agenda item 12, the board rejected the application of Destiny Joseph for Police Fingerprint Technician 1. Motion by Mr. Bayrow, second by Mr. Lemming. Approved without objection.
• Tabling of Classification Changes – Agenda item 11 (public hearing on classification changes) was tabled after the fire chief withdrew his request. Motion by the chair, second by Mr. Ricks. Approved without objection.
• Adjournment – Motion by the chair, second by Mr. Ricks. Meeting adjourned.