PAWTUCKET, RI (WJAR) — Members of the Pawtucket firefighters union are sounding the alarm over what they call a “complacent approach to public safety.”

Lt. Erik Cordeiro, a 16-year veteran of the department, told NBC 10 News that he and other union members were stunned last Tuesday when they learned that a probationary crew member, elderly 22 years old, had been appointed interim deputy chief.

According to Cordeiro, the appropriate mechanism “is to call on a battalion chief, who is one rank below.”

Mayor Don Grebien said the position was posted but there were no applications, so in filling the temporary position they were going to go with the most cost-effective option.

Grebien insisted there was no threat to public safety, calling the role purely administrative, for which any permanent member of the department would be qualified. He added that giving the position to a more experienced person would have created overtime issues.

Contract negotiations largely aimed at expanding the Pawtucket Fire Department’s command staff are underway.