TheeBadOne
Member
Copyright 2003 Times Publishing Company
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
September 26, 2003 Friday
The controversy over the fire lieutenant's words created a chain of events that led city leaders to work toward a citywide climate of tolerance.
LARGO - An independent arbitrator has upheld the city's decision to terminate a fire lieutenant for making a racial slur last year.
Largo fire Lt. Jeannine Horton was fired in November 2002 after she confessed to making remarks in front of firefighters that included the words, "I hate n------." The local firefighters union filed a grievance on her behalf. A hearing was held in June, and the arbitrator's decision siding with the city was released this month.
Horton's remark touched off a chain of events in Largo that made city leaders promise to promote a citywide climate of tolerance.
Horton's remark came to light about the same time a fair-housing survey was released that showed racial discrimination in Largo, and soon other city employees came forward with accusations of racial harassment.
As a result, City Manager Steve Stanton set up a plan to improve diversity and open a community dialogue. And Fire Chief Caroll Williams sent out a warning that discrimination in his department would not be tolerated.
Largo leaders looked at ways to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Commissioner Charlie Harper proposed a human rights ordinance, which, by including protections for transgender people, would have made it one of the broadest in the state.
In the year since, Largo has not undergone a metamorphosis, but there is evidence of change.
The Fire Department has offered jobs to African-Americans under a revamped hiring process aimed at increasing diversity. A committee is planning a memorial to honor King, the slain civil rights leader.
And while the ordinance failed in August, the city is considering an internal antidiscrimination policy.
Local union president Timothy Baker said the union respects the city's policy of zero tolerance, but in Horton's case the treatment was unfair. Horton, 40, was an 18-year employee with an exemplary record, he said.
"She was fired for a use of a derogatory word that was not directed at any one individual or group. It was taken out of context," Baker said. "We're disappointed, obviously."
But city leaders felt vindicated by the arbitrator's decision.
Assistant City Manager Henry P. Schubert said it made clear that city workers, especially those involved in public safety, cannot show bias against any group.
"The public needs to be confident that we're going to treat everyone equally and fairly and when anyone does anything to compromise that, that's a serious issue."
Williams, the fire chief, agreed, but said there were no winners in this situation.
"The bottom line is that we can't tolerate that behavior. And we serve a diverse group of people and it's important that we not tolerate that in any form or fashion," Williams said.
City Commissioner Charlie Harper said the decision will not prevent future situations of racism.
"I think things will continue to happen because some people just don't get it, and quite frankly they need to move on if they don't get it," Harper said. "The world is changing rapidly, and it's not changing in the direction of bigotry."
Horton, who now is employed as a lieutenant with Estero Fire Rescue, could not be reached for comment.
When questioned by fire administrators last year, Horton said that she didn't believe the word she used was a racial term and that she used it to describe bad people of any race, nationality, sex or creed.
She also told investigators the incident happened during a conversation with other Station 41 firefighters who used terms such as "towel head" and "lazy blacks."
During arbitration, the city cited several rules that it believed Horton had violated, including those that prohibit profane and abusive language and require courtesy in dealings with subordinates and associates.
The city also maintained that her actions damaged the credibility of the department as well as the city. The term "hate," officials argued, was more significant than the slur itself.
The union stated that others who used the same slur were not disciplined as strictly. One case it cited was in 1985 when a police officer who used the same word in front of several subordinates was demoted.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/wpublish...Id=34&topicId=17906&docId=l:51775990&start=14
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Not saying right or wrong, but the interesting question is where does free speech start, and where does it end?
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
September 26, 2003 Friday
The controversy over the fire lieutenant's words created a chain of events that led city leaders to work toward a citywide climate of tolerance.
LARGO - An independent arbitrator has upheld the city's decision to terminate a fire lieutenant for making a racial slur last year.
Largo fire Lt. Jeannine Horton was fired in November 2002 after she confessed to making remarks in front of firefighters that included the words, "I hate n------." The local firefighters union filed a grievance on her behalf. A hearing was held in June, and the arbitrator's decision siding with the city was released this month.
Horton's remark touched off a chain of events in Largo that made city leaders promise to promote a citywide climate of tolerance.
Horton's remark came to light about the same time a fair-housing survey was released that showed racial discrimination in Largo, and soon other city employees came forward with accusations of racial harassment.
As a result, City Manager Steve Stanton set up a plan to improve diversity and open a community dialogue. And Fire Chief Caroll Williams sent out a warning that discrimination in his department would not be tolerated.
Largo leaders looked at ways to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Commissioner Charlie Harper proposed a human rights ordinance, which, by including protections for transgender people, would have made it one of the broadest in the state.
In the year since, Largo has not undergone a metamorphosis, but there is evidence of change.
The Fire Department has offered jobs to African-Americans under a revamped hiring process aimed at increasing diversity. A committee is planning a memorial to honor King, the slain civil rights leader.
And while the ordinance failed in August, the city is considering an internal antidiscrimination policy.
Local union president Timothy Baker said the union respects the city's policy of zero tolerance, but in Horton's case the treatment was unfair. Horton, 40, was an 18-year employee with an exemplary record, he said.
"She was fired for a use of a derogatory word that was not directed at any one individual or group. It was taken out of context," Baker said. "We're disappointed, obviously."
But city leaders felt vindicated by the arbitrator's decision.
Assistant City Manager Henry P. Schubert said it made clear that city workers, especially those involved in public safety, cannot show bias against any group.
"The public needs to be confident that we're going to treat everyone equally and fairly and when anyone does anything to compromise that, that's a serious issue."
Williams, the fire chief, agreed, but said there were no winners in this situation.
"The bottom line is that we can't tolerate that behavior. And we serve a diverse group of people and it's important that we not tolerate that in any form or fashion," Williams said.
City Commissioner Charlie Harper said the decision will not prevent future situations of racism.
"I think things will continue to happen because some people just don't get it, and quite frankly they need to move on if they don't get it," Harper said. "The world is changing rapidly, and it's not changing in the direction of bigotry."
Horton, who now is employed as a lieutenant with Estero Fire Rescue, could not be reached for comment.
When questioned by fire administrators last year, Horton said that she didn't believe the word she used was a racial term and that she used it to describe bad people of any race, nationality, sex or creed.
She also told investigators the incident happened during a conversation with other Station 41 firefighters who used terms such as "towel head" and "lazy blacks."
During arbitration, the city cited several rules that it believed Horton had violated, including those that prohibit profane and abusive language and require courtesy in dealings with subordinates and associates.
The city also maintained that her actions damaged the credibility of the department as well as the city. The term "hate," officials argued, was more significant than the slur itself.
The union stated that others who used the same slur were not disciplined as strictly. One case it cited was in 1985 when a police officer who used the same word in front of several subordinates was demoted.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/wpublish...Id=34&topicId=17906&docId=l:51775990&start=14
*********************************************
Not saying right or wrong, but the interesting question is where does free speech start, and where does it end?
