Another Look at Fire Dept. Personnel : Independent panel will review audit’s findings of prejudice and harassment

Rightly, the Los Angeles Fire Commission signaled this week that it is concerned about the Fire Department’s personnel practices. A city audit of the department had found that women and minority firefighters were subjected to sexual and racial harassment; however, top fire officials claimed that the department’s own data contradicted the audit’s findings. Now the commission has appointed an independent panel to find out what’s really going on.

The study, to be led by attorney Gilbert T. Ray, will review the disputed audit, interview department members and examine other Fire Department data. Ray cautioned that his four-to-six-week study will “be far from a definitive piece.” But definitive or not, if Ray’s panel corroborates the audit’s findings, the Fire Department must take immediate remedial steps.

The audit, made public earlier this month, paints an appalling picture of life inside the Fire Department for women and minority recruits. White males hold 95% of the top department posts, none of which are held by Asian Americans, blacks or women. The audit identified what it termed “rookie kill stations,” where efforts are made to run women and minorities out of the department--this after 20 years of affirmative action policies. Those efforts, unfortunately, have been successful; the audit found the attrition rate for women and minorities to be significantly higher than for white men. There is simply no excuse for harassment and racism, and if the commission’s independent panel finds the audit credible, change must be immediate and far-reaching.

Sadly, serious allegations such as those lodged against the Fire Department have also been made against other city agencies of late. Just this year, both the Los Angeles Police Department and the city’s Department of Water and Power came under intense scrutiny and criticism in the wake of appalling charges of sexual harassment. In response, the Police Commission has created a unit within the LAPD to investigate complaints of harassment and discrimination. The DWP, following a $1.5-million settlement of a harassment case brought by a former employee and revelation of about 100 sexual harassment complaints against the agency over the last two years, says it is reviewing its procedures for handling sexual harassment cases. It also says it is renewing its commitment to ending this illegal and disgraceful behavior.

Now, top fire officials may need to step forward as well, and city officials must hold the department accountable for any reform that is needed.