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The department’s other high-profile Latino is Deputy Chief
Philip Cervantes, who presided over Friday’s swearing-in
ceremonies in council chambers.
Toledo’s Fire and Rescue Department Department was once headed
by Toledo’s new mayor Mike Bell – who was a strong
advocate of diversity in hiring. This was the first Fire Class
sworn in under the administration of Bell.
The class, which was assembled under Bell’s predecessor, Mayor
Carty Finkbeiner, had only two African-American males and
five women—one of them an Asian-American— among its members. The
balance (29) is comprised of white males.
Both Cervantes and Luis Santiago told La Prensa that they
believed more Latinos will be in the next Fire Class. Cervantes
said “several Latinos who were in the class initially may have
failed one of the steps, but are still eligible for the next
class. We’re always hoping we’ll get more (Latinos),” he said.
However, Cervantes agreed that there was an immediate need to
get more members of the Latino community interested in a career,
which has historically always held a great attraction for
Latinos.
Chief Santiago stressed that the future tests would “encompass
more people.”
Proudly speaking about his son, Santiago explained that: “Back
when he was looking at getting into a profession, I sort of
drove him to earn his paramedic certification. I knew it would
make him more marketable and also stifle any sense of nepotism.
And he made it on his own. He’s had his paramedic training for
five years now.”
New firefighter Santiago is a graduate of St. Francis de Sales
High School—like his father. He is married and the father of a
seven-month old daughter.
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