Test scores give hint to new Lynn heads

LYNN – Top scores on local fire and police assessments offer a glimpse at the city?s potential future public safety leaders.District Fire Chief Stephen Archer topped the April 17 assessment test for fire chief, followed closely by District Chief John Barry. Police Capt. Michael Mageary tallied the highest score on the March 26 police assessment for deputy chief.The “assessment center” scores provide Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy with a pool of candidates to fill the deputy?s job – should Deputy Police Chief Kenneth Santoro retire this year – and the fire chief?s job.Fire Chief James McDonald said he is at least “two and a half years” away from retirement, but he said the list of his potential successors is important. Kennedy appointed McDonald, a 37-year fire department veteran, fire chief in January 2013. The list his name appeared on expired last August.?It?s not good to have an expired list with no one to appoint,” McDonald said.Picking a chief or deputy through an assessment process involves a lengthy review evaluating candidates? ability to handle real-life job situations, as well as planning skills and familiarity with holding community meetings, to name some of the areas evaluated in an assessment.MMA Consulting of Plymouth conducted the city?s top public safety job assessments and Kennedy said assessment scores are “a strong indicator” – but not the only factor – that goes into her selections for top public safety positions.?Respect of fellow police officers and firefighters and common sense are also important,” she said.She said assessments conducted since 2009 provided the city with good public safety leaders, including Police Chief Kevin Coppinger and former Fire Chief Dennis Carmody.According to city records, Archer topped the fire chief assessment with an 89 score followed by Barry, who scored 87. Deputy Chief William Murray and district chiefs Arthur Richard and Timothy Collier also participated in the assessment.Mageary received an 86 score on the deputy police chief assessment with Capt. Edward Blake scoring 82, followed by Capt. Mark O?Toole and William Borders.Archer, a 20-year department veteran, declined to comment on his assessment score, but Barry, a veteran district chief, said the assessment process effectively tests a potential chief?s ability to handle pressure created by the top department job.?It is a very stressful position. It can wear people down,” he said.Barry said post-Sept. 11 anti-terror response requirements and other changes have transformed the Fire Department from the one he joined 30 years ago.?It?s a totally different job with the training, the way we view things and the standard we are held to,” he said.McDonald said technology is giving firefighters new tools, including the ability for fire crews responding to an emergency to assess risks like structural problems and hazardous materials in a building before they arrive on scene.Technology aside, he said his eventual successor will have to juggle concerns weighing on all fire chiefs? minds.?The biggest challenge is enough personnel: You need bodies – it is a personnel-driven business,” he said.