pissedoffiniraq
05-22-2005, 02:18 PM
To: Program Manager Rick Tye
cc: DPM Tony Collins, Chief Roy Hernandez, Asst Chief R W, Capt D T, Lt P H, Lt D M
From: Rustamiyah Fire Department
Re: Inconsistencies, Favoritism and Discrimination in acknowledgement of inappropriate behavior
This letter is to bring attention to the inconsistencies that take place at D7 on a daily basis in regards to racial remarks, sexually explicit material, sexual innuendos and other compromising situations committed by the upper chain of command.
To begin, it is a disgrace to our fire department and to the fire profession in general the absolute discrimination that takes place in passing judgment for wrongdoings committed by the chain of command here. One of our firefighters, FF J S, is currently being wrongly prosecuted by our chain of command as well as WSI and KBR in general over a conversation that took place on the KBR radio the evening of May 20, 2005. FF S was engaged in a conversation with two African-American KBR employees that turned to a playful poke at each other and the amount of work done by each. One of the KBR Employees made the statement “You think we don’t work, Tell me who you are and I’ll bring my black ass down there and show you how hard we work. FF S’s response was “This is the Fire Department, and you are welcome to bring your black ass down here anytime. We’re here 24 hours a day.” It was understood by all parties involved that this was all in jest and that nothing insensitive was intended.
The thing that is most frustrating about this is that we are given examples of actins far worse than this on a daily basis. Capt. Doyle Tackett has, on numerous occasions, made derogatory remarks about “niggers,” “high yellas” and anything else that comes up at the time. These conversations have taken place between Capt T and G H, an LSI Supervisor. The remarks are frequently made with no regard to the other persons in the room. One of our Firefighters, FF B was even asked one day, “B, do you know what a High Yella is? It’s like a nigger who is a half-breed, really light skinned.”
To say the least, this is hardly the type of leadership we should have at our site, not to mention leaders like this leading the unjust persecution of one of our firefighters who has selflessly and single-handedly fostered the relationship with the military that keeps our station taken care of on a daily basis. FF S is an asset that will be quite noticeably missed and the quality of life and morale here will be cut drastically. That’s not taking into account the impression that our firefighters and other members of the base get when they see that the double standard here only works in favor of the officers, whether they are in the right or not.
Very Respectfully signed,
Nearly everyone at D7.
While we are hardly proud of it, we must confess that nearly every one of us has used the same terminology at one time or another in the office. We work in a rather lax atmosphere, but it's a different story when the leadership who engages in such activity on a daily basis is prosecuting a FF for one incident that offended nobody involved.
pissedoffiniraq@hushmail.com
cc: DPM Tony Collins, Chief Roy Hernandez, Asst Chief R W, Capt D T, Lt P H, Lt D M
From: Rustamiyah Fire Department
Re: Inconsistencies, Favoritism and Discrimination in acknowledgement of inappropriate behavior
This letter is to bring attention to the inconsistencies that take place at D7 on a daily basis in regards to racial remarks, sexually explicit material, sexual innuendos and other compromising situations committed by the upper chain of command.
To begin, it is a disgrace to our fire department and to the fire profession in general the absolute discrimination that takes place in passing judgment for wrongdoings committed by the chain of command here. One of our firefighters, FF J S, is currently being wrongly prosecuted by our chain of command as well as WSI and KBR in general over a conversation that took place on the KBR radio the evening of May 20, 2005. FF S was engaged in a conversation with two African-American KBR employees that turned to a playful poke at each other and the amount of work done by each. One of the KBR Employees made the statement “You think we don’t work, Tell me who you are and I’ll bring my black ass down there and show you how hard we work. FF S’s response was “This is the Fire Department, and you are welcome to bring your black ass down here anytime. We’re here 24 hours a day.” It was understood by all parties involved that this was all in jest and that nothing insensitive was intended.
The thing that is most frustrating about this is that we are given examples of actins far worse than this on a daily basis. Capt. Doyle Tackett has, on numerous occasions, made derogatory remarks about “niggers,” “high yellas” and anything else that comes up at the time. These conversations have taken place between Capt T and G H, an LSI Supervisor. The remarks are frequently made with no regard to the other persons in the room. One of our Firefighters, FF B was even asked one day, “B, do you know what a High Yella is? It’s like a nigger who is a half-breed, really light skinned.”
To say the least, this is hardly the type of leadership we should have at our site, not to mention leaders like this leading the unjust persecution of one of our firefighters who has selflessly and single-handedly fostered the relationship with the military that keeps our station taken care of on a daily basis. FF S is an asset that will be quite noticeably missed and the quality of life and morale here will be cut drastically. That’s not taking into account the impression that our firefighters and other members of the base get when they see that the double standard here only works in favor of the officers, whether they are in the right or not.
Very Respectfully signed,
Nearly everyone at D7.
While we are hardly proud of it, we must confess that nearly every one of us has used the same terminology at one time or another in the office. We work in a rather lax atmosphere, but it's a different story when the leadership who engages in such activity on a daily basis is prosecuting a FF for one incident that offended nobody involved.
pissedoffiniraq@hushmail.com