Childbirth no excuse for firefighter test

HOUSTON – A firefighter took a promotion exam just 12 hours after giving birth because of a state law requiring all promotion candidates to be tested at once.

Beda Kent gave birth Jan. 10, slept for a little more than two hours and popped some painkillers before taking the exam. She scored 104 out of 110 and expects to return from maternity leave in March as a captain with a $6,000 raise.

“I wanted that promotion,” Kent said of the job she had sought for two years. “I feel I was overdue for this promotion.”

When she was six months pregnant, Kent learned the test would be given on Jan. 11 – just four days after her due date. She asked if a proctor could administer the exam at the hospital if necessary, but was told there could be no exceptions, except for firefighters on active military duty.

Kent’s doctor tried to induce labor on Jan. 4, but discovered doing so could cause complications and force a Caesarean birth, with a longer recovery that would take away from Kent’s time to study.

After her daughter was born, Kent left the infant named Brina Sue at the hospital within hours.

Houston Fire Chief Phil Boriskie had an ambulance on standby at the test site in case Kent needed it, she said.

“After a while, it did get to be uncomfortable, and thank God they did give us 2 1/2 hours to take the test because I had to readjust and refocus,” Kent said.

District Fire Chief Jack Williams has said firefighters given a reprieve from the testing rule may have an unfair advantage by learning about the exam from other test-takers.

Kent, who has worked for the Houston Fire Department for 12 years, opted to take the test because missing it would have meant waiting at least two years before the next promotion exam. But, she said, the department should accommodate those with legitimate medical excuses.

“The law said that they didn’t have to, but they could have sent a proctor,” Kent said. “The test is in a sealed envelope. It shouldn’t have been a problem.”