Racial tension heating to a boil |
| Angela Carter , Register Staff 02/06/2005 |
| NEW HAVEN — A firefighter and fire lieutenant, who both are white, have been suspended after allegations that they said the word, "nigger," while on duty. The incidents were reported in December. The suspensions Thursday came after black firefighters revealed publicly that they fear for their lives at emergency scenes. "Enough is enough," said Alderman Drew King, D-22, of the Dixwell neighborhood, a member of the Board of Aldermen’s Public Safety Committee. "A man today, in 2005, has to go to work and be afraid on his job? Something’s wrong with this picture." Several members of the Firebird Society, a fraternal group of minority firefighters, and the Rev. Boise Kimber, a black fire commissioner, appeared recently before the aldermanic com-mittee during a public hearing saying policies, promotions to acting positions and specialized assignments are applied inconsistently, which only deepens racial rifts. "When the (emergency) tone hits, you don’t want to second guess the guy next to you," said Firefighter Dawud Amin. Lt. Gary Tinney in mid-December reported that Firefighter Pat Reardon, said the word, "nigger," at Engine 6, a firehouse on Goffe Street. Blacks and whites witnessed the incident but not everyone concurred that Reardon used the slur. "The firefighter who is accused of this certainly said he didn’t make that statement," said Firefighter Patrick Egan, the president of the fire union, "and there’s another African-American firefighter who was sitting at the table who without question said (Reardon) did not say anything to the effect of the allegations." On Thursday, Fire Chief Michael Grant suspended Reardon and a second firefighter, Lt. Jack Ryan, for an undisclosed period. Grant did not discuss specifics of the investigation. The chief’s disciplinary options ran from doing nothing to issuing an oral reprimand or suspensions of to up to 15 days without pay. Longer suspensions or terminations are doled out only by the commissioners. Attempts to contact Reardon and Ryan for comment were unsuccessful. The two were suspended under a departmental regulation stating "no member shall be prejudiced or annoyed on account of race, religion or politics." Had there been no consequences for the alleged use of the word, then racial discord among firefighters could escalate, said Firebird President Wayne Ricks. "There should be a price to pay. If not, what happens the next time? What happens if it goes a step further and there’s an altercation?" Ricks said. However, Curtis Tolson, a black member of the Firebirds, asserts the word was never said. In a memo to the fire chief, Tolson said Reardon fumbled over his words during a conversation. Tolson claims he began teasing Reardon that the stammer almost sounded like "nig," or half the word "nigger." "While I laughed at him about it, Pat responded to me with the statement ‘Oh no, now you guys are going to think I’m racist.’ We all laughed. I clearly know Pat didn’t say the word ‘nigger’ or part of the word ‘nig.’ No one displayed any dismay about the statement or incident," Tolson said in the memo. Tinney also told the aldermanic committee that in a second incident, Ryan, the acting captain at Engine 6, allegedly asked five minorities in a meeting to explain the difference between calling someone "nigger" instead of "nigga." "I was offended by that," Tinney said. Reardon and Ryan were not identified during the aldermanic hearing. "This is definitely a safety issue when we come to work," Tinney said. Many firefighters say the claims of racial tensions are overblown, driven by Tinney and a small group of other black firefighters. Kimber said he has raised additional concerns about the length of time firefighters are on sick lists, selection for professional development training and the grading system in the fire academy. He said department regulations are not followed in a "fair and equitable" manner. "I will not sit on any commission and be a rubber stamp for anybody. I will call it like I see it. I will say that we do have problems," Kimber said. Mayor John DeStefano Jr.’s spokesman, Derek Slap, said that Acting Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Pugh and Human Resources Director Tina Burgett are working with Grant to select a diversity training consultant who would visit each firehouse once per shift. "The mayor has spoken to Chief Grant about the importance of resolving this and making sure there is not an environment where people feel this is tolerated," Slap said. Public Safety Committee Chairman Yusuf Shah, D-23, asked Grant and Assistant Fire Chief Ronald Dumas to provide within 30 days a report on the department’s investigation into Tinney’s complaint and on past disciplinary actions over the last five years, but not limited to racial matters. Register reporter William Kaempffer contributed to this story. Angela Carter can be reached at 789-5614 or acarter@nhregister.com . |