Carlos Rivera Photo
Asst. Fire Chief Orlando Marcano.
Word shot like a three-alarm fire through NHFD and political circles in town Monday night after the city’s highest-ranking Latino firefighter, Assistant Chief Orlando “Woody” Marcano, announced he is retiring amid an “impossible” work environment.
Marcano, who grew up in the West River neighborhood and has 25 years on the job, made the announcement in a letter to the Board of Fire Commissioners.
“Unfortunately, recent events have made it impossible for me to meet my responsibilities as an Assistant Chief in a manner that I feel is deserving of the position and in a manner that is deserving of the citizens, taxpayers of the City New Haven and my fellow firefighters,” Marcano wrote.
“With a heavy heart, many months of prayer, and countless hours of heartfelt conversations with my family; I have made the difficult decision of retiring from my position of Assistant Chief as of my 25th year anniversary date of March 29, 2020.”
Marcano assumed the number-two spot in 2017 after a steady climb through the department. He was the first Latino to ascend to the position.
He filed a lawsuit this past September against other top brass as well as Fire Union President Frank Ricci accusing them of undermining him in the job. (Read about that here.) Ricci denies the allegation.
Marcano declined comment Monday night for this story.
Doc Johnson photo
Marcano, at right, at the scene of a November fire on James Street.
Marcano had originally applied for the top position, fire chief, and scored highest on the exam; then-Mayor Toni Harp hired Alston instead. Marcano was subsequently named assistant chief.
“We had to fight to get” Marcano into the number-two position,” former Hill Alder David Reyes said. “We had to fight after he was in the position” because “cards were dealt against him.”
Marcano is one of the last group of firefighters from an academy class that ushered in a new generation in the NHFD after a years-long hiring freeze. Most of the other remaining members of the class, with whom Marcano stayed close — EMS Supervisor Kenny Oliver, Battalion Chief John Brown, and Battalion Chief Tyrone Ewing — told the Independent Monday night they, too, plan to retire this year.
They stayed tight: Classmates Kenny Oliver, Tyrone Ewing, John Brown, Orlando Marcano.
“It’s a sad day,” Ewing said of Marcano’s announcement. He said Marcano had been the target of a “smear campaign” by the fire union because “he cannot be bullied. He could not be bought. He stood up.”
“I hate to see him go,” echoed Oliver. He said that as assistant chief, Marcano “had my back” and “made sure things were done by the book.”
Capt. Ralph Zayas, president of the Hispanic Firefighters Association, called Marcano “a man of high morals and integrity.” Zayas has known Marcano since he was 8 years old and they both attended First Star of Jacob Church on Howard Avenue. He, too, called Marcano’s pending departure “a sad day for the department.”
In his civil complaint against Alston and Ricci, Marcano alleged that Ricci once said at a union membership meeting, “We are going to do to the [plaintiff Marcano] the same thing we did to Ralph Black,” a former fire chief who resigned from the department “after negative and/or embarrassing local news reports, articles and/or publicity about him.” And of warning him: “I’ve gotten people fired or made them resign” and “I have the media I can use as a baseball bat” and “Who do you think you are? You’re nobody!”
At the time Ricci denied the allegations. He called Marcano’s suit “an attack on [the] rights of all New Haven Firefighters” filed “in retaliation for representing my membership and exposing the truth in that endeavor.”
The suit accused Chief Alston of “negligent supervision” in allowing Ricci and others in the department allegedly to smear and undermine him. Alston declined to comment at the time. Alston also declined to comment Monday evening on Marcano’s pending retirement.
“I wish Asst. Chief Orlando Marcano luck in his retirement,” Ricci stated in a text message Monday night. “It is unfortunate that he has weaponized his position and the court system in an attempt to shield his actions from public scrutiny.” Ricci expressed confidence that “the union and I will be vindicated in court” in Marcano’s “frivolous lawsuit against me for actions carried out in my official capacity as union president.”
Text Of Marcano’s Letter
Orlando Marcano.
To the Board of Fire Commissioners:
Unfortunately, recent events have made it impossible for me to meet my responsibilities as an Assistant Chief in a manner that I feel is deserving of the position and in a manner that is deserving of the citizens, taxpayers of the City New Haven and my fellow firefighters.
With a heavy heart, many months of prayer, and countless hours of heartfelt conversations with my family; I have made the difficult decision of retiring from my position of Assistant Chief as of my 25th year anniversary date of March 29, 2020.
Over the past twenty-five years in public service, I have had the privilege of serving the residents of this great city. I began my career at Headquarters as a firefighter in 1995. Then, was re-assigned to Hill Station. In 1998, I was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant serving out of Lombard and Hill Station. Later, I was promoted to the rank of Captain at Engine 5 out of East Shore. Rising to the rank of Battalion Chief, I served the East side of the city at Lombard Station. I then returned back to where I started my career as an Acting Deputy, then ultimately was appointed to the position of Assistant Chief in 2017.
Through my many years of service, I have learned a great deal and have grown tremendously. I feel it is time for a change and I look forward to the next chapter in my life.
It is my intention to begin using vacation over the coming weeks to focus on the future. I will make myself available to assist the transition in any way possible.
When my single mother left the Bronx in 1974 in search of a better life for her little brother and two sons, she never dreamed that one of her sons would achieve this level of service. I am thankful for the privilege of being counted amongst those who have served in this capacity. I have far exceeded any expectations that could have been set when I joined the Fire Department, and for that I am grateful.
I owe a great debt to this city and to those that have assisted me throughout my career, and I will continue to make every effort to repay it.
It was an honor to have served alongside the past and present members of what I consider to be the best Fire Department in the country.
Grateful and humbled,
Orlando Marcano
Assistant Chief Executive Officer
We've lost a good one New Haven... Lets listen to the firefighters who corroborate that Chief was an unwavering fair, righteous and just man... Mr. Ricci, Mr. Ricci, ... Your case isn't won in the court of public opinion. It's handled in the court of law...