September 21 — NEW LONDON — The September 12 night shift at the city’s fire department headquarters proved to be a relatively quiet one for the three-man fire crew working the Bank Street location.
There was a two-car accident on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge, after which a caller reported smelling smoke.
So the team ― Lt. Al Mayo, his cousin Ralph Mayo III, and Markeno Grant ― spent much of their 14-hour shift standing by the station’s open loading dock doors, waving to passersby and reveling in a milestone in the department’s history: the first time a New London fire crew was composed entirely of black firefighters.
“It was a perfect storm of events that made this possible,” Al Mayo, 46, said Thursday. “It’s not something you can plan for or even really schedule. None of us are assigned together on a regular basis, so the chances of this happening are very slim. But it’s something I’ve been looking forward to for the last seven years.”
The department operates on a four-shift rotation, with members often working overtime to ensure that every locomotive and ladder truck is staffed. Each shift consists of a supervisor, a driver, and a rider, with the latter responsible for stretching hoses, handling medical issues, and other hands-on work.
With only three Black firefighters currently responding to calls in a department of 64 active personnel ― Capt. Nick Brown, a 10-year veteran who transitioned to the fire investigation side in 2021 ― there was a good chance the three men’s schedules wouldn’t align.
First, they needed someone already on the job, in this case 32-year-old Ralph Mayo, the shift rider hired three years ago. Then, they needed an overtime shift supervisor to free up time to give Al Mayo, with 13 years of service under his belt, a chance to step in, as he did on September 11th.
That’s when Grant, who was scheduled to be off work on Sept. 12, looked at the department’s scheduling app and saw the opportunity to make history as a shift driver. And with seven years of experience, he had enough seniority to ensure his request to cover that shift was honored.
“I had to take that job,” says Grant, 37. “I’ve been waiting for this the whole time.”
Brown said the department nearly succeeded in putting together an all-black crew years ago with him as supervisor, but a last-minute injury put an end to that.
“I didn’t hear about the (Sept. 12) shift until the next day,” Brown said. “I was super excited that it was finally happening, but disappointed that I couldn’t be there.”
Al Mayo said he saw the crew composition as a symbolic victory.
“It showed that the first black crew could do the job with the utmost professionalism,” he said. “I was the first black firefighter hired in 35 years and it took another 13 years to get to this point.”
Both Al Mayo and Grant indicated that as black firefighters they have a responsibility to be role models for other residents of color in New London, especially younger residents.
“Growing up, all the firefighters I saw on TV were Italian, not people who looked like me,” Grant said. “A fire department and a police department should reflect the community itself. I want to go into schools or a medical call and show those people a firefighter who looks like them and know that it’s a job they can do too.”
According to Al Mayo and Grant, the department has recently taken positive steps to hire more minority applicants. Two Hispanic and two Black firefighters are in the process of being certified at the Connecticut Fire Academy.
Ralph Mayo is aware of the historical significance of the recent shift and is proud of his contribution. However, he says he has a radically different self-image than his black colleagues.
“I’m not a black firefighter; I’m a firefighter,” he said, noting that he has a racial background that includes black, white and Asian roots. “I’m proud to serve with each of my brothers and sisters, regardless of their race or gender.”
According to Al Mayo, the change was praised by department heads, including Chief Vernon Skau, but ignored by representatives of the city’s firefighters’ union.
Mayo, who admits his relationship with the union he resigned from earlier this year was fraught with difficulties, said he would have welcomed an acknowledgement on social media from the union.
“Through these types of posts on Facebook and other sites, young people learn about these milestones and become interested in a career as a firefighter,” Mayo said.
The X page for IAFF Local 1552, which represents New London firefighters, is not updated often. The last post was on January 30, 2023. The union’s Facebook page is more active, with several monthly posts uploaded this year.
Lt. Steve Joly, president of the union, said he was thrilled with the recent news of the shift, noting that there were a lot of moving parts that had to fall into place at once.
“It’s really cool and everyone here is excited about it,” said Joly.
Skau said he learned of the historic shift the night it happened after receiving a text message from Al Mayo.
“My first thought was how exciting it was, but I was also surprised to hear that it hadn’t happened before,” he said. “It’s so important that our membership reflects our community. This is progress, and our next step is to one day have an all-female motorcycle crew.”
j.penney@theday.com
