EDITORIALS Stratton makes right call promoting Krawiecki
Given all that’s gone on lately involving Schenectady public safety workers and illegal drugs, one can easily understand Mayor Brian Stratton’s hesitance to promote a fi refi ghter who pleaded guilty 20 years ago to dealing cocaine at the prison where he was employed as a guard. But 20 years is a long time in any person’s life, and by all appearances, Vincent Krawiecki has rehabilitated himself. He trained as a paramedic and the city hired him in 1993 as a firefighter. Since then, he’s risen through the ranks — serving as lieutenant for four years beginning in 2002, and most recently, as captain. Still, Stratton balked at approving Krawiecki’s promotion to deputy chief when it was announced in early July — which is not exactly surprising given the recent case involving cocaine theft by vice squad detective Jeff Curtis, not to mention all the other embarrassments involving Schenectady cops and drugs that took place before Stratton became mayor. But Krawiecki apparently kicked his addiction years ago — Commissioner Wayne Bennett says he’s passed “numerous” random drug tests since the department’s random testing policy was adopted, including one as recently as two months ago. Plus, he’s been an exemplary firefighter, cited for crawling into burning buildings to save people, doggedly applying CPR to revive heart attack victims, etc. Perhaps Stratton’s initial decision on Krawiecki was complicated by an accompanying promotion for another fi refighter who failed a departmental drug test five years ago but who has since been clean. That was a much easier call, and Stratton has wisely stuck with it. But in Krawiecki’s case, the mayor’s decision to show forgiveness was proper. He shouldn’t even hesitate to make Krawiecki chief one day — as long as the drug tests continue.
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