The Evansville Fire Department Merit Commission voted Oct. 14 to certify its new-hire list for the next hiring session (referred to in the meeting as the 2026–27 cycle) and discussed changes to testing procedures after multiple ties among applicants complicated ranking.

Chief Masterson and other staff briefed commissioners on results from the most recent recruit testing. The department reported that the most recent written exam produced lower mean scores compared with their previous test but narrowed disparities between white and non‑white applicants. Staff reported that 11% of the passing scores were non‑white and 7% were female; during the meeting a speaker summarized those figures as representing “a total of 18%,” language the commission did not further quantify.

Commission discussion focused on a technical tie problem. The written exam was administered with scores reported to two decimal places; with roughly 100 test questions, commissioners said the two‑decimal reporting produced many identical written scores across a large applicant pool. Commissioners and staff discussed possible fixes: asking the vendor to add one or more questions to expand score granularity, requesting the vendor report additional decimal places, or switching vendors. Staff said they will meet with other testing companies to determine whether the company used this year (identified in the meeting as PSHRA) can customize question counts or score precision and to compare administrative support and cost. Participants said the prior Indianapolis‑based vendor had been easier to reach by phone.

Commissioners also discussed the oral examination and tiebreaker process; staff said oral scores helped separate some candidates but did not resolve every tie. Commissioners asked staff to pursue options with testing providers and report back at a future meeting.

The commission formally moved to accept and certify the new-hire list for the next hiring cycle; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

Separately, Chief Masterson reported operational updates: the most recent recruit class graduated Oct. 3 and both recruits from that class are now assigned to stations; the department currently reported two vacancies and does not plan another recruit class before the start of the year. Masterson also told commissioners the department issued two verbal reprimands in a discipline case involving a fire truck backing without a spotter; the reprimands were uncontested. No further disciplinary action was recorded at the meeting.