Opinion: Good luck to all of us now!

Dec 11, 2022

To the editor:

Gross negligence and disregard on the part of Bob Bouley and Billy Coutu (new Prudential Committee members) offering the Fire Chief’s position to Policeman Scott Brooks, after a few unrelated and clueless questions were asked in a very unprofessional “ job interview.” 

Sargent Brooks seemed like a nice guy and is probably a good policeman, but he has no experience as a Fireman or Paramedic.  He has been on the Dartmouth Police Department for the past 14 years.

The Committee originally advertised the Chief’s position requiring at least 20 years of experience as a firefighter and 5 years in a command role. Brooks has none of this. Now what?? Are the remaining firefighters and volunteers supposed to train him over the next several years on basic firefighting skills, fire science and the operation of equipment and systems? He does not even know what gear to wear, how to put it on or how it works and no paramedic education for medical emergencies. This is not right or fair to anyone, including the men working under him and our community.

None of these qualifications were required by Bouley or Coutu. Ralph Medeiros, the 3rd and experienced Committee member, made it very clear Brooks was not qualified but yet again, Ralph was out voted two to one.

Billy Coutu stated in the meeting that Brooks came “highly recommended”  by former Chief Andre (who quit the department last November, before his contract was up) A recommendation, by the former chief who left the department in such dire straits, should hold no value.

In my opinion, a fireman would never be hired as a police chief in the Town of Dartmouth. 

This blatant disregard for experience and safety, is a total slap in the face for the position and now opens up our district and all of our citizens to a huge insurance risk and certainly a rise in rates.

The decision will leave our fire department severely unqualified, in an already understaffed department, which in turn will compromise our citizen’s safety, from fire, automobile and medical emergencies.  Good luck to all of us now! 

Susan E. Borges,

Dartmouth