Accused firefighter's aunt denies bias charge

Accused firefighter's aunt denies bias charge

William Kaempffer , Register Staff

10/17/2003

NEW HAVEN — A white female city firefighter, accused of making a racial slur, is not a racist and is being unfairly portrayed, a family member said.

Kate Taylor, the aunt of Firefighter Carole LaCroix, said her niece "doesn’t have a prejudiced bone in her body."

"If anybody knew Carole, she’s one of the least prejudiced persons in the world," said Taylor. "I’m just heartsick for her. She hasn’t stopped crying. She’s just not a malicious person."

LaCroix, who is white, was placed on paid leave from the city’s fire department Wednesday, a day after other firefighters reported she twice referred to the United Negro College Fund as the United Nigger College Fund.

She’s scheduled for a disciplinary hearing before the Board of Fire Commissioners next month, and the Greater New Haven NAACP has called for her firing.

LaCroix, an East Haven resident, has been unavailable for comment, but her aunt said people are rushing to judgment without knowing the whole story.

Taylor said LaCroix has dyslexia, a learning disability, and sometimes struggles with reading, particularly when she’s under pressure.

So when she unexpectedly had to make a presentation about the UNCF in front of firefighters, she flubbed it.

"She read something, and it just came out wrong," Taylor said. "She just does not make fun of people or races. She’s been raised in an atmosphere where all colors are accepted. We don’t use that (word) here. We never have."

The episode happened Tuesday at the Lombard Street firehouse in Fair Haven. Each year, local charities send representatives to make appeals for donations from city employees. LaCroix, a seven-year member of the department, was assigned to escort them to different firehouses.

Among the groups soliciting donations was the United Negro College Fund. LaCroix was asked to handle their presentation when the representative wasn’t able to attend.

Taylor, of New Haven, said her niece grew up in a diverse family. Taylor said she’s been married for 42 years to a black man, and LaCroix grew up in that atmosphere.

"I’ve seen racism all my life, and that certainly was not racism," Taylor said. "She’s such a good kid, and it’s the last thing in the world she would do. She wouldn’t malign anybody. She said, ‘I don’t want to be labeled as a racist.’"

LaCroix is slated to appear before the Board of Fire Commissioners Nov. 4.

"It’s just like she’s being railroaded. It’s like she’s hung out to dry before anybody (has) heard her side."

William Kaempffer can be reached at wkaempffer@nhregister.com, or at 789-5727.