Nebraska Governor investigates firefighter hiring denial

The Nebraska governor’s office is investigating the city of Fremont after a 22-year-old volunteer firefighter, Andrew Coates, was denied a full-time position due to his educational background. Coates, a state-licensed EMT, applied for a permanent role at the Fremont Fire Department, but his application was disqualified because his high school diploma was from a homeschooling program, which the city claimed was not from an accredited high school.

Coates reported that while there were no rules barring homeschoolers at the time of his application in April 2026, the eligibility rules were changed after the application closing date. Although the Fremont Civil Service Commission acknowledged an irregularity in the hiring process during an appeal, it ruled that it lacked the authority to overturn the city’s employment policy.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen expressed strong disagreement with the decision, stating that qualified citizens should not be turned away based on their educational background. He noted that Coates has already demonstrated commitment to public safety through his volunteer service and announced that his administration will investigate ways to remedy the situation.