ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A new promotional test administered this summer was believed to be the end of a nearly three-year long pause in promotions within the St. Louis City Fire Department.
However, according to the city's Director of Personnel, a temporary restraining order relating to a couple vacancies filled in an acting role, is currently being used by the city to prevent all future vacancies from being filled, even after the latest test.
David Rodriguez, who is the Treasury Secretary for St. Louis Firefighter Local 73 Union tells KMOX News they're disappointed and confused by the city taking this position.
"Our understanding is that we should be able to promote and fill vacancies outside of that temporary restraining order. That's been our interpretation all along." said Rodriguez.
The temporary restraining order stems from lawsuit filed by over a dozen firefighters who have been filling vacant leadership roles in an acting capacity.
In his temporary restraining order filed Sept. 30, Judge Joseph Whyte said the city cannot use any new promotional lists to fill any "existing vacancies."
Director of Personnel Sonya Gray confirmed to KMOX the City Counselor's Office is interpreting this to include any future vacancies that arise until the litigation has concluded.
There have been a large number of vacancies within department leadership since the promotions were halted nearly three years ago. Nearly half of all Battalion Chief positions and a fifth of all captains positions are currently vacant.
Rodriguez says these vacancies, even those filled in an acting role, pose a safety risk.
"We've had people riding out a title and working that capacity, but not being paid... We don't have the proper supervision on the trucks now because we don't have bonafide officers out there, leading and making these decision where they need to be." said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez shares how chaotic things can get when leaders can't be easily identified, like by the color of their helmets which indicates rank.
"When things are really going bad or we're in a point where we need to make a quick split second decision, and we need to look for our decision makers," said Rodriguez. "Without those guys there present on scene, we have no idea where to go."
Rodriguez adds this pause on promotions has done serious damage to morale within the department.
"Morale is some of the lowest I've seen in the last fifteen years that I've been on the job." Rodriguez adds, "I was laid off in 2011 and I would say morale is pretty close to that period of time."
However, there is hope lying ahead, with a court hearing scheduled in the next week, on Monday, Dec. 16.
"We're going to see if we can get that clarification done with the judge or amend that [temporary restraining order] as necessary." said Rodriguez.
Will the city agree to an amended restraining order? The union can only hope.
"It's our hope that they'll agree to it and they'll see what we see and our understanding of the temporary restraining order... we really don't know what they're going to do at this point."