Shannon Grayson's probationary appointment to the position of firefighter, effective Monday, was approved by the City Commission during its regular meeting Tuesday at City Hall, upon the recommendation of City Manager Bill Parrish. Here name was on a list with two other newly hired firefighters -- Jacob Aull and Joshua Wheeler.
Grayson was formerly employed as the wellness supervisor at the Owensboro Family YMCA. She was not available for comment on Tuesday.
Asst. Fire Chief Bill Van Winkle said the fire department has had other female applicants in previous years, but only Grayson and one other female have ever passed the required CPAT, or candidate physical agility test.
However, Grayson's gender was not a factor in her hiring, according to Van Winkle.
"We feel simply that she was one of the most and best qualified candidates who applied for the position," Van Winkle said.
At the City Commission meeting, Van Winkle acknowledged the historic nature of Grayson's hiring, but again, he said: "She is simply one of the top three candidates we hired and is basically ready to go to work."
Nevertheless, Mayor Ron Payne congratulated Parrish and Fire Chief Steve Mitchell. "Well done, Mr. Parrish and Chief Mitchell," he said.
The physical agility test, which is timed, is demanding, Van Winkle said, requiring dragging hoses and equipment, raising ladders and climbing stairs.
"The state fire commission does the testing for it," Van Winkle said. "Most states use it and the fire chief's association endorses it."
Men and women have failed the test, Van Winkle said.
Like all starting firefighters, Grayson will spend her first 400 hours on the job in training, seeking to be certified as a firefighter 1 and firefighter 2 before working an actual fire, Van Winkle said.
The fire department will make only minor changes to its buildings to accommodate its first female firefighter, Van Winkle said, such as placing locks on bathroom doors to ensure privacy. Two of of the city's fire stations already have separate bathrooms for men and women, he said.
In a previous job, Grayson was the secretary in the Criminal Investigations Division of the Daviess County Sheriff's Department.
Steve Vied, 270-691-7297, svied@messenger-inquirer.com
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