By John Nickerson
Staff Writer
February 7, 2007
NORWALK - A consultant hired to gauge race relations within the fire department issued a report last night recommending officials issue a clear code of conduct, implement human relations training and improve rank-and-file relations with Chief Denis McCarthy.
But the consultants did not find racism to be endemic in the department, said Brigitte Payne Cogswell, managing partner for 3-D Seminars LLC.
The city hired the firm for $9,250 to conduct the race survey.
Cogswell and 3-D Seminars partner Jack Zaccara told the Board of Fire Commissioners that the vast majority of firefighters said they were hurt by the allegations of racism.
3-D Seminars was called in after suspended firefighter Scot Wilson released a videotape to the media that showed a firefighter in the Broad River firehouse using racial slurs to describe blacks and Hispanics.
The controversy led a Common Council subcommittee to recommend the suspension of McCarthy. Mayor Richard Moccia rejected the recommendation.
Wilson has a racial discrimination complaint pending before the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. That complaint may be dropped as a result of a confidential agreement reached last night between the fire commission and Wilson.
After conducting 10 focus groups with more than 110 department members, Cogswell said she found firefighters were frustrated by their inability to respond to media allegations of racism.
At the focus groups, where the firefighters did not wear name tags or give their names when making comments, Zaccara said there was a broad consensus about racism.
"The white firefighters and firefighters of color overwhelmingly said this is not a racist department," Zaccara said.
He said firefighters told him: "When the fire bell rings, we respond regardless and we have each others' back."
Zaccara said the videotape controversy helped bring department morale to an all-time low while leaving firefighters feeling they were "walking on eggshells" with one another.
Firefighters admitted that firehouse banter would seem inappropriate to those on the outside. But the banter was undertaken with the underlying knowledge that relationships between the verbal combatants were based on trust, Zaccara said.
"This is how we relate to one another. This is how we test our mettle," he said as he related what firefighters told him.
Firefighters said they crossed the line on rare occasions by making remarks to one another about race, personality and sexual orientation, Zaccara said. But they drew the line at taking shots at family members such as wives, children and parents.
Cogswell presented a series of recommendations.
She said fire department leaders must make a commitment to diversity. A code of conduct should also be created that clarifies the behavior expected of employees and a way to report violators.
Consultants suggested human relations training that would emphasize the importance of accepting differences and instructing firefighters on ways to more easily manage conflicts.
Firefighters told 3-D Seminars they do not feel the chief is accessible, Cogswell said. She recommended the department hold informal discussion forums where the chief can listen to firefighters' concerns.
Moccia said he understands the pressures firefighters face and does not believe racism is pervasive in the department.
"When they go out that door, they are only looking at one thing . . . and they don't look at anyone's color," he said.
McCarthy said his one regret through the process was his inability to better defend firefighters when racism allegations arose. He said his need to act as an objective listener during the survey process blunted his defensive instincts.
The report provides an opportunity for the department to improve, he said.
Fire union President Michael Foley said any education firefighters receive will make a better department.
The Rev. Phyllis Bolden, a Common Council member who is conducting an investigation of racism in the fire department, could not be reached for comment last night.
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.