HOUSTON -
At Houston Fire Department Station 54, which serves Bush Intercontinental Airport, firefighter Paula Keys was targeted with messages using the "N" word. Firefighter Jane Draycott was targeted with messages using the "B" word.
The messages were found in their living quarters at Station 54
For the first time today Mayor Bill White called a news conference to discuss the issue of alleged racism and sexism within the ranks of HFD.
We ask for the perpetrator of this heinous crime to come forward. We will investigate it thoroughly and find who's behind it," White said.
White called this weeks incident targeting Keys and Draycott "shameful attitudes and behaviors which are unacceptable in this time and this place."
White disagrees with Houston Black Firefighters Association President Otis Jordan who says the department is so racially tense that violence might occur. Jordan also says the investigation of racial incidents are taking too long. White agrees that they're taking a long time, but says that's because the city is following the rules.
"To often it seem to me that we've relied on the management processes that are based on the letter of the Civil Service law. That's something that is designed to protect the rights of individual employees, but it is not a substitute for effective prevention and management of conflict within the workplace," White said.
Many critics like City Council member Jolanda Jones say Federal investigators should be called in. White says the city can handle the investigation on it's own, but he also promises a top to bottom independent review of the fire department. He expects to name that organization within 2 weeks.
The attorney for Keys and Draycott had this to day today.
"I think that our clients are definitely encouraged that there's been some attention on it because that's the first step to getting rid of the problem," said Attorney Joseph Ahmad.
Ahmad says he had about 10 calls from other people who have been victimized by racial or sexual insensitivity.
The messages were found in their living quarters at Station 54
For the first time today Mayor Bill White called a news conference to discuss the issue of alleged racism and sexism within the ranks of HFD.
We ask for the perpetrator of this heinous crime to come forward. We will investigate it thoroughly and find who's behind it," White said.
White called this weeks incident targeting Keys and Draycott "shameful attitudes and behaviors which are unacceptable in this time and this place."
White disagrees with Houston Black Firefighters Association President Otis Jordan who says the department is so racially tense that violence might occur. Jordan also says the investigation of racial incidents are taking too long. White agrees that they're taking a long time, but says that's because the city is following the rules.
"To often it seem to me that we've relied on the management processes that are based on the letter of the Civil Service law. That's something that is designed to protect the rights of individual employees, but it is not a substitute for effective prevention and management of conflict within the workplace," White said.
Many critics like City Council member Jolanda Jones say Federal investigators should be called in. White says the city can handle the investigation on it's own, but he also promises a top to bottom independent review of the fire department. He expects to name that organization within 2 weeks.
The attorney for Keys and Draycott had this to day today.
"I think that our clients are definitely encouraged that there's been some attention on it because that's the first step to getting rid of the problem," said Attorney Joseph Ahmad.
Ahmad says he had about 10 calls from other people who have been victimized by racial or sexual insensitivity.
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