Here’s a Fire the Chief Doesn’t See : Manning’s apologia about an offensive videotape raises even more questions

The Los Angeles city fire chief has apologized for his initial, inaccurate explanation about the videotape of female recruits struggling futilely to perform basic training exercises. But Chief Donald O. Manning’s latest explanation for the existence of this demeaning tape is no better than his first. And his statement to the Fire Commission on Tuesday unfortunately raises yet more questions than it answers about the department’s personnel policies and its leadership.

When the videotape first came to light last week, Manning characterized it as “blooper type” tape. It was meant to be humorous, the chief testified, and not intended to ridicule women recruits. This week Manning says that he had not been fully briefed by his staff on the results of an internal Fire Department probe of the tape. That investigation concluded that the tape was made on orders from Capt. Donald M. Carter specifically to protect the department in event of sexual-harassment complaints and lawsuits by female trainees who were allegedly performing poorly. Carter testified Tuesday that many female recruits in the academy (and some males) were not physically capable of battling blazes. But all individuals must pass an extremely rigorous physical test in order to even gain admission to the academy. Does the captain’s comment indicate he and others think that test is not rigorous enough? Or is the department going out of its way to make sure that women who passed the test don’t graduate from the academy?

In his comments on Tuesday, Manning apologized “if there is a feeling that I did not provide all the information.” But the question aside of whether the chief has been candid, either explanation for the tape--that watching women recruits struggle and fail was sport for some or that the department expected certain women to fail and laid a tape trail in advance--is appalling. Both lend credibility to charges of racism and sexual harassment in the department. Manning’s statements indicate, as well, a stunning lack of full understanding of his department’s problems.

During last year’s devastating wildfires, the men and women of the Los Angeles Fire Department demonstrated they are first class firefighters. They deserve leaders who will build on that tradition, both on the fire lines and off. But each new revelation and each new hearing before the Fire Commission or the City Council further polarizes the department and reveals the current leadership as wanting in that task.

Last month, the Fire Commission appointed an independent panel to determine whether charges of widespread racism and sexual harassment leveled in a city audit are true. If that study corroborates the audit’s findings, Chief Manning’s hold on his job will become yet more tenuous.