http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-nor.racism5jul02,0,5120078.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines
By John Nickerson
Staff Writer
July 2, 2007
NORWALK - To the dismay of fire officials, the vice chairwoman of the city's Human Relations Commission has called for a special meeting in hopes of opening a second investigation into allegations of racism in the fire department.
Mary "Bea" Brown said the meeting is scheduled for July 9.
"I figure we need to bring it up because we can call an investigation if we would like," Brown said Friday. "I think we should discuss it."
Chief Denis McCarthy said another investigation is unneeded, especially since an ongoing inquiry has turned up no new allegations and a human relations consultant did not find racial tensions in the department.
"To pursue this any further is demoralizing to the department," Fire Commissioner Carol Andreoli said. "The accusations against these men are unjust and I am appalled to hear that they want to pursue this further."
For four months, the fire department has been investigated by a subcommittee of the city's Health, Welfare and Public Safety Committee, led by Common Council member Phyllis Bolden.
In three public hearings, Bolden's panel questioned a dozen people, including former Mayor Alex Knopp, former fire chief Sanford Anderson and four minority firefighters, who said black, white and Hispanic firefighters get along well.
The investigation was launched after videotape showing a firefighter using two racial slurs to describe blacks and Hispanics during a conversation at the Broad River firehouse in March 2005 was released to the media in November.
The transcript of that exchange became part of a discrimination complaint filed with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities by black firefighter Scot Wilson.
As part of a settlement of that complaint with the city, Wilson, who faced dismissal for repeatedly showing up for work intoxicated, promised to withdraw the action, retire, collect $40,000 in pay and keep medical benefits for himself and his family.
Brown said she thinks Bolden's investigation has been stymied by members of her committee.
"So far, it has just bogged down and nothing has come up. I think she does not know what to do. Some of the members on the committee are giving her the run-around," Brown said.
Bolden disagreed.
"I believe my investigation was through and complete . . . I have not been pressured to finish the investigation prematurely," Bolden said. "I have not been supported by some and I have been scorned by others, but I do not care."
Bolden said she is scheduling what may be a final hearing for early this month to discuss whether Wilson will give her subcommittee a copy of the videotape. Once that is determined, the subcommittee likely will recommend measures regarding race in the fire department, Bolden said.
The Human Relations Commission should not take up the investigation, Mayor Richard Moccia said.
"I think the time has come to end this. I don't know how I can make this any clearer. There is no racism in the fire department. It has been confirmed by firefighters, by the consultant that came to Norwalk to interview the firefighters, and testimony before the Health, Welfare and Public Safety Committee investigation and my own observations of firefighters," Moccia said.
City attorneys have questioned whether the Human Relations Commission has a right to investigate, he said.
But Brown said a provision in the city Charter allows the commission to conduct investigations.
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.