New Haven swears in first female deputy fire chief

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — An inauguration ceremony made history Monday in New Haven when Shakira Samuel was promoted to deputy fire chief, making her the city's first woman to hold that rank.

This monumental moment sparked applause, tears and pride.

“Representation matters,” Samuel said. “It sends a powerful message. You can achieve this too.

Samuel is also the first woman of color to serve as deputy fire chief in New Haven, becoming the highest-ranking female chief of staff in the department's 160-year history.

“I didn’t think a woman could be a chief in New Haven,” Samuel said. “I didn’t grow up seeing that and I’m happy to be able to represent that for them.”

Samuel has been with the department for 22 years, rising through the ranks in various roles from inspector to deputy fire marshal, driving improvements in each department.

“I've seen a change in this office, and so that's one of the things we said on our panel that it's something we need, it's something that's missing and does that she’s a woman and a woman of color is a bonus,” New Haven Fire Chief John Alston said.

Alston said Samuel’s commitment and passion set her apart.

“She took three exams in one day and got first place,” Alston said.

Today, Samuel is a deputy chief and a role model for the community and his own family.

“She worked really hard to get there,” said her 12-year-old son, Landin Williams. “I thank her for studying hard, which inspired me to study hard during my exams at school. I just love it. She's my favorite person in the world.

Samuel's mother, Willie Samuel, said it was obvious her daughter was loved.

“Just seeing the community as a whole welcoming us, to me it’s family,” she said.

Samuel said she has the same love for New Haven, excelling through obstacles in a male-dominated profession that races toward danger as others burn out.

Alston said the department currently has just under 350 firefighters. Of those, 17 are women, which Samuel hopes to improve by sparking new representation in the Elm City.

“We're actively recruiting, so I go out into the community and we talk to the community and get more women to join us,” Samuel said. “The people, the New Haveners, who serve New Haven, that’s what keeps me going.”