The Syracuse Fire department has promoted the first Black Woman to captain. It’s part of a concerted effort to make the department reflect the community it serves.
Tamica Barnett is one of only 15 women in a department of about 360, and now one of four in a supervisory role.
“As I advance and accomplish more things, I think it's important to always go back to where you started to show the kids not only I'm just I'm a regular person, I'm from the same neighborhood," she said. "I probably went to school with their parents just to show them that it's very attainable and not to let anybody put a cap on what you can accomplish.”
Just five years ago, the Henninger High School graduate was promoted as the department’s first Black female lieutenant. Michael Monds was appointed SFD’s first Black chief in 2018. He said Barnett has proven herself as a capable and qualified leader over the past 15 years.
“It's not a historically diverse profession, so there's not many role models that you can talk to," he said. "I think we've done a good job, especially over the last nine years. We've hired two or three of the most diverse classes in our history. We've promoted a lot of diversity up our ranks.”
Barnett has been in charge of Fire Station 18 on Midland Ave in the Valley since last week.
“Her job is to make sure that all the firefighters are trained, they're doing what they need to do to make sure the fire apparatus is ready, all their tools and equipment are ready, and following all the procedures to make sure when they respond that things are as safe as possible," Monds said.
Barnett admitted it's a challenge.
“When you're new and it's your first week doing anything, it's a heavy lift," she said. "I'm human, so sometimes things are overwhelming, but we got through it.”
Barnett's firefighting career wasn’t always certain. She leaned on a previous captain for encouragement.
“Honestly, at first I wasn't sure if it was for me or if I can do it," she said. "And one of the things he said if there's any female that can do this job, it would be you. So in going through the academy and anytime I felt defeated, I kind of replayed that in my head, 'if there's any female that can do this, it's going to be me'. And once I got into it and understand [sic] all the different ways that you can help, I was all in.”
Barnett is also president of the Syracuse City school board and runs a workforce development non-profit called Fired up for Youth.
