Cover-up allegations prompt LA City Council to request report on firefighters grievance process – Pasadena Star News

[ad_1]

The city council voted on Tuesday, August 17 to order a report on the grievance and disciplinary proceedings at the Los Angeles Fire Department over cover-up allegations involving a senior administrative official who was allegedly under the influence of the alcohol or drugs during homework.

The vote was 13-1, with only Councilor Mitch O’Farrell dissenting.

“The fire department has policies and procedures that govern discipline. However, in a recent case, certain procedures were not followed after a complaint was filed regarding an employee’s behavior, ”according to the motion, which was presented by City Councilor Monica Rodriguez. “It is imperative that the fire department report on current disciplinary and grievance procedures and standards as well as the consequences for officials who choose not to follow prescribed procedures. “

The motion also sought data on complaints categorized by gender or ethnicity, which is why City Councilor Mitch O’Farrell voted no, according to his communications director Dan Halden.

“Board member O’Farrell believes that any allegations of bias or discrimination based on race and sex anywhere should be fully investigated and strongly supports the Department’s investigation. United States Justice on the matter. As written, the motion he voted against in committee and still today was presented as a fatality rather than a very serious allegation of procedural violations at LAFD, ”said Halden.

“Allegations of bias in the department’s handling of the problem are rightly under review. And as a member of a traditionally marginalized community himself, while he believes this motion is well-intentioned, the board member has privacy concerns related to the instruction to collect personal data that could potentially distinguish people based on their gender identity, race and sexual orientation. “

The Los Angeles Times reported on August 3 that the US Department of Justice was investigating allegations by organizations representing LAFD black and Latino firefighters, the Stentorians and Los Bomberos, respectively.

Deputy Fire Chief and Los Bomberos President Patrick Butler sent a letter July 28 to U.S. lawyer Tracy Wilkinson asking her office to “investigate the Fire Chief (Ralph Terrazas) and all of the executives of the city who were involved in the cover-up regarding the alcohol and drug poisoning service of a senior member of the fire chief’s staff.

The Times reported that Terrazas had received a complaint alleging that Deputy Chief Fred Mathis was intoxicated while on duty in the department office at East Town Hall as LAFD teams struggled. against the fire of the palisades in May. The department is required to deal promptly with employees suspected of being intoxicated, but records and interviews examined by the Times showed that the complaint against Mathis was not filed for three days.

The complaint said Mathis admitted to drinking, according to The Times, and that the city’s timing system was recorded retroactively to report that Mathis was ill on the day his poisoning was reported.

“We all want and demand accountability and transparency from our civic leaders and government departments. The men and women of LAFD deserve nothing less, nothing is more essential to our department, ”Butler said in the letter. “Problems of race, inequality and other societal issues cannot be resolved until we have confidence in our leaders and the processes that protect us and the public we serve. “

According to the Times, Captain Robert Hawkins, executive vice president of the Stentorians, said: “Chief Terrazas knew about this and broke the policy. It is a lack of accountability and a lack of integrity. People get special privileges based on rank and skin color.

Stentorians chairman Gerald Durant and Butler also called on the Los Angeles Fire Commission to investigate the department’s handling of the complaint against Mathis.

[ad_2]