Archer first minority to become district fire chief

LYNN – Stephen Archer made city history on June 12, but he?s not one to boast about it.Archer, 45, a 19-year Lynn firefighter, was sworn in that day as the first African American district chief in the history of the Lynn Fire Department, an accomplishment he acknowledged could mean a lot to the city?s black, Asian and Hispanic youths.?I don?t focus on that much, but I know I can be a role model for kids in the community who can identify with me in a way that they can?t with white firefighters,” Archer said inside his office at the Broadway fire station Thursday. “Some of them don?t have positive role models.”This past winter, Archer found himself holed up in the library most nights to study for the exam required for district chief applicants, along with his bachelor?s degree, leaving his wife Susan to “shoulder the burden” of caring for their four children: two boys, ages 8 and 16, and two girls, ages 11 and 14.?It was a big sacrifice of time,” he said. “And sometimes it feels overwhelming. But that?s when the support system kicks in, and my wife?s really done a lot.”City Councilor at large Gordon “Buzzy” Barton, who has known Archer since childhood, said the promotion is well deserved, and shows the department has come a long way in hiring minorities.?This is as big to me as Barack Obama as president,” Barton said. “When I went to the Fire Department in 1976, there were only two other [minorities]. It?s a different era for the city.”But Archer?s ascension up the ranks has no relation to the color of his skin, Barton said.?He?s a hard-working man. He put his nose in the books and he got what he deserved,” he said. “Race has nothing to do with how he earned it.”Archer credited Barton, as well as retired firefighters Kenneth Turner and Kevin Bradley, with his way.?The black firefighters who got on before me – I would not be here if they had not set a good example,” he said.With the recent hires of more black, Hispanic and Asian firefighters, Archer said he felt the department was “more representative of the community” than ever before.All his studying paid off as Archer passed the test in March and took over as district chief last month following the retirement of District Chief Lee Oliver. Now, working the day shift, he can spend time with the family again, and even coach his youngest son?s little league team. There?s only one thing the new gig is lacking.?I?m no longer out on the apparatus, and I?ll miss that [because] I?ve always enjoyed being hands on, he said. “But this brings new challenges and I?m excited for that.”Archer has been with Lynn Fire since November 1993. Before that, he spent nearly a decade as an electrician; a skill he said often comes in handy when investigating fires. He still does electrical work when other duties – and there are many – aren?t calling. His younger brother, Graham Archer, a captain of the Swampscott Fire Department, encouraged him to take the first Civil Service exam. At the same time, Archer was considering joining his older brother, a now-retired state trooper.?I thought about it, and when police show up, at least one of the parties is not happy to see you. When the Fire Department shows up, they?re usually happy to see you. So it?s a much more positive job helping people,” he said. “I think I made the right choice.”Taylor Provost can be reached at [email protected].