2024 ANNUAL REPORT - Final

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OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

Administration and Communication

Uniformed New Hire Recruitment

The Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS) began 2024 with the hiring of Recruit Class 36 and Recruit Class 37 on February 12, 2024. Those two recruit classes graduated 40 Firefighter/EMT’s on August 23, 2024. As RC36 and RC37 progressed through the 28-week academy the Division began their next recruitment campaign in Spring 2024.

This year, the Administration and Communication Section focused on strengthening the recruitment pipeline for uniformed positions, ensuring that the department remains adequately staffed with highly qualified individuals. The recruitment campaign involved targeted outreach to local job fairs, high schools, colleges, and paramedic programs, as well as developing partnerships with military transition programs, and branching out to other states and regions. In addition, the department increased its use of social media platforms to reach a wider, more diverse pool of candidates. DFRS recruitment teams traveled to over 45 different venues located in MD, VA, PA, WV, and NC. The application process began on May 1, 2024, and concluded on June 30, 2024, with 687 applications. All applicants who met the minimum eligibility requirements were invited to take the written multiple-choice examination to test deductive reasoning, numeric facility, information ordering, inductive

reasoning, mathematical reasoning, problem sensitivity, verbal comprehension, and verbal expression. Those candidates (278) who scored 70% or above were then invited to participate in our Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) mentorship program. This program is delivered over the course of 8 weeks to assist in preparing candidates, mentally and physically, to pass the CPAT. Those applicants who were successful (166), were then invited to interview with a panel of Frederick County Firefighters and based on scoring, were then extended a conditional offer of employment. Once they accepted the conditional offer they proceeded with an extensive background check, physical examination, psychological evaluation and fingerprinting. Final offers were sent out to 56 candidates for Recruit Class 38 and Recruit Class 39 in December 2024. They will begin their academy on January 13, 2025. Throughout 2024, the division encountered 37 separations from employment of its current personnel. Seventeen were from recruit resignations, medical separations, and terminations related to academics; 10 were resignations, and 10 were eligible retirements.

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