By Matt Breslow
Staff Writer
January 3, 2007
NORWALK - The Common Council announced the formation of a subcommittee yesterday to probe a videotape purportedly showing a fireman using two racial slurs in a firehouse, and officials' response to the recording.
The Rev. Phyllis Bolden said the bipartisan panel - a subcommittee of the council's Health, Welfare and Public Safety Committee - will hold its first formal meeting in the next few weeks.
Bolden, chairwoman of the committee and subcommittee, said she wants the new panel to hold a hearing this month.
"We're going to have people testify about what went on," said council President Michael Coffey, a subcommittee member.
Fire Chief Denis McCarthy said the department is performing an internal investigation into the alleged use of racial epithets but he welcomes the council probe.
A diversity training firm will begin working with the fire department tomorrow. Success by Design 3D Seminars LLC was hired for $9,250 to conduct training and assess the racial climate of the department.
Mayor Richard Moccia said the council is entitled to investigate the incident but hopes the matter isn't dragged out. Moccia said McCarthy apologized for not taking stronger action when the tape came to his attention and cited the upcoming diversity training.
"I would like to get this behind us once and for all and go from there," Moccia said.
The tape reportedly was made in March 2005 during an informal conversation at the Broad River fire station on New Canaan Avenue.
An excerpt from the video was shown to the media in November by Scot Wilson, a black firefighter who alleges he was subjected to racism at work in a complaint to the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.
Wilson didn't file a formal complaint with the city about the tape but said he brought its existence to McCarthy's attention in an August 2005 meeting, while Wilson was suspended after allegedly reporting for duty after drinking.
McCarthy said he "allowed the disciplinary nature of (his) meeting with an employee to distract (him) from the claims he was making." However, McCarthy said he spoke to members of the department who assured him there was no larger problem of racism within the ranks.
Coffey said members of the newly formed subcommittee want to examine the words spoken in the recording, who said them and what has been done about the comments and the speaker.
Additionally, Coffey said the subcommittee wants to probe when the existence of the tape was reported, why actions weren't taken at the time and what the fire department has done about the video since November.
"This committee wants to make it crystal clear that this type of behavior will not be tolerated by the city of Norwalk or any of its employees, if it's true, and we need to get to the bottom of that," Coffey said.
Bolden said the public is concerned about allegations that racial discrimination is tolerated at the fire department.
McCarthy said the department's internal investigation began with interviews with firefighters who were at the Broad River station the day it is believed the recording was made. Additionally, he said the department is interviewing anyone else who can provide information on the tape.
The department doesn't have a copy of the video, but McCarthy said he ordered Wilson - as an employee - to provide the recording. Wilson and his attorney have declined previous requests, the chief said.
Wilson is suspended without pay for arriving at work after drinking in September and faces a disciplinary hearing next week. He has indicated he was treated for alcohol abuse in 2005 and returned to firefighting but relapsed after being treated poorly at work.
Wilson yesterday declined to discuss the tape but said he received a call from McCarthy seeking a meeting. Wilson said he was trying to contact a union representative, who must be present for him to meet with the chief.
Bolden said the subcommittee's hearing will likely be open to the public, though she would have to check with the city's law department. Members of the city's Human Relations Commission will be invited to attend meetings, she said. Bolden said she hopes the subcommittee can make recommendations on which the full council could act.
Although the fire department is conducting its own probe, McCarthy said he welcomes any government entity looking into the matter because he wants an open, honest and transparent process to ensure "no stone is left unturned."
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