Fire Dept. Minority Hiring Practices to Be Studied
The City Council on Tuesday ordered a study of the Fire Department’s hiring and promotion practices involving minorities and women.
Minority representation in the department has risen from less than 6% in 1974 to 37% today, but is still short of reflecting the city’s 63% ethnic population, Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas said.
“The statistics speak for themselves with respect to entry-level positions,” said Ridley-Thomas, who proposed the study. “With respect to promotional opportunities in terms of managerial or supervisorial positions, the problem is more stark.”
Minorities make up 22% of captains and 12% of battalion chiefs and the higher ranks, Ridley-Thomas said.
Fire Chief Donald Manning said his department does not discriminates against minorities.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
