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MEMPHIS -- Racial quotas are fueling a year-long paramedic shortage and putting the public at risk, according to a paramedic on the city fire department and representatives of the city firefighters' union.

For more than a year, the Memphis Fire Department has wrestled with both firefighter and paramedic shortages. Crews are spread thin, and records indicate overtime costs have skyrocketed, as high as $30,000 a day in January 2004. A 11-year veteran paramedic who asked not to be identified for fear of losing his job told 3 On Your Side the city's human resources department will not fill 75 vacant paramedic positions until its minority applicant pool reaches an unconfirmed percentage.

Dr. Lorene Essex, Director of Human Resources for the City of Memphis, said she could not answer questions about minority percentage requirements. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor show African-Americans make up approximately 22% of all health and protective care occupations.

Terry Oldham, President of the Memphis Firefighters Association Local 1784, said the department tried to implement a "fast-track" hiring option that would have filled vacant positions with professionals "cross-trained" in both fire-fighting and emergency medical techniques. Oldham said those applicants could have been on the street saving lives in four to six weeks as opposed to the standard 20-week training period, saving city taxpayers thousands of dollars.

"This option was recommended sometime last year during the overtime crisis," said Oldham, "but was not implemented because HR said that it would cause too much of an adverse impact on the diversity of the department."

Essex and Memphis EMS Chief Gary Ludwig said they are working together on requests for proposals (RFP's) to streamline the recruiting process for both firefighters and paramedics.

"We're concerned with getting quality applicants," said Essex. "That's the bottom line, and we want to make sure we have a diverse list always."

Essex referred us to City Attorney Sara Hall for information on minority applicant percentages. Hall was out of town and could not be reached for comment. Memphis City Councilman Tom Marshall, chairman of the council's personnel committee, was also out of town and unreachable.