Mayor Lovely A. Warren announced in early June that the Rochester Fire Department passed another milestone on its path to reflect the diverse population of the city with the promotion of Lawrence Brumfield to Battalion Chief, the first Black man to gain that rank in latest of a long line of ‘firsts’ for the 24-year Department veteran. “I want to congratulate Battalion Chief Lawrence Brumfield for this accomplishment in an already remarkable career,” said Mayor Warren. “And I want to thank him for providing this incredible validation of our work, and the work of mayors like William A. Johnson Jr., to reverse the racist and misogynistic hiring practices of past governments. Lawrence Brumfield is the living embodiment of a dream achieved by a young Black man from Rochester who was given nothing more than a chance.” Interim Chief Felipe Hernandez promoted Battalion Chief Brumfield Monday morning along with Capt. Kevin Ryan; and Lieutenants Joseph Geraci and Frederick Mannino.
Marty Coker, the RFD’s first Black Firefighter, pinned his new insignia on his uniform. Battalion Chief Brumfield joined the RFD in 1997 after completing the second class of the Rochester Firefighter Trainee Program, a program in East High School launched by Mayor Johnson to recruit more city residents to the Rochester Fire Department. The program has evolved to become Career Pathways to Public Safety in partnership with the Rochester City School District. It includes the Rochester Police Department, Emergency Communications Department, and other jobs in public safety.
In addition to being the first black man to serve in his new rank, Battalion Chief Brumfield is also the first Firefighter Trainee to be promoted to the rank. He was also the first Firefighter Trainee to be promoted to lieutenant and captain. While serving in the RFD, Battalion Chief Brumfield has continued his higher education and now holds a degree and certification as a nurse practitioner and works toward his doctorate in nursing.
Battalion Chief is the highest rank in the RFD’s civil service system. The Chief and Mayor appoint deputy Chiefs and the Fire Chief. In his new role, Battalion Chief Brumfield will oversee the Department’s Health and Safety Battalion, which manages the training and equipment used to protect firefighters. Battalion Chief Brumfield’s promotion occurs when Mayor Warren and her staff are working aggressively to diversify the Fire, Police, and Emergency Communications Department, using such strategies and asking churches and houses of worship to host recruiters during the fellowship hours. Since the start of Mayor Warren’s term in 2014, the RFD has expanded its role of minority firefighters ten percentage points to 30 percent; and women firefighters one percentage point to 3.4 percent of the firefighters. The ranks are now their most diverse in the history of the Department.
