News
2007-08-23
L.A. mayor
announces new fire chief, hoping to end culture
of discrimination
Los Angeles mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa, hoping to eradicate what critics
have called a cul
Los Angeles mayor
Antonio Villaraigosa, hoping to eradicate what critics
have called a culture of discrimination, hazing, and sexism,
announced Tuesday that he has named a 32-year veteran
of the Los Angeles Fire Department to serve as the
city's first black fire chief.
Douglas L. Barry,
who has been the interim chief since January, had
initially rejected the full-time position but said Tuesday
he changed his mind because there was still work to be
done.
''The mission we
have undertaken is not yet complete,'' Barry said. ''I
feel much has been accomplished and now is not the time to
break the momentum of change being embraced by the
department.''
Former chief
William Bamattre was forced to retire last year amid
accusations that he had failed to root out hazing and
harassment during a decade on the job.
Harassment and
discrimination cases filed by LAFD employees have cost
taxpayers nearly $15 million since 2005, including a record
$6.2 million judgment last month to Brenda Lee, a
black lesbian firefighter who said she was taunted and
retaliated against for complaining.
Several other
major lawsuits are pending, including the case of black
firefighter Tennie Pierce, who said that white colleagues
spiked his spaghetti with dog food and that he
suffered retaliation for reporting the incident. The
mayor vetoed a settlement in that case when pictures
surfaced showing Pierce taking part in hazing, and a trial
is expected in September.
Barry, 54, has
visited every city firehouse to emphasize the department's
commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on horseplay, hazing,
and harassment.
''If the last
eight months are any indication of Chief Barry as fire
chief, I'm extremely optimistic,'' said Steve Tufts,
president of the United Firefighters of Los Angeles
City. (AP)
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