Fire Chief Says County Should Hire More Minorities, Women

Mindful of allegations of bias within the Los Angeles city Fire Department, county Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman appeared before the county Commission for Women on Monday and said that although his department has made some strides, it must do more to hire women and minorities.

Alarmed by reports of discrimination and sexual harassment within the city Fire Department and by a widely distributed video dubbed “Female Follies,” considered by many to be insulting to women fire recruits, the commissioners quizzed Freeman about his department.

Of the county’s 2,400 firefighters, only 11--less than half of 1%--are women. African Americans make up 9% of all uniformed personnel and Latinos 21%, Freeman said. He said women and minorities are given every opportunity to advance, noting that African Americans make up 13% of assistant chiefs, with the percentage for Latinos the same.

Of four deputy chiefs, one is black, one Asian American and two are white. The highest ranking woman on the force is a captain--one of 569 of that rank.

Freeman said he would like to see the number of female firefighters quadrupled within five years.

“Firefighting is still very much a non-traditional job for a female,” he said in an interview after the meeting. “We have to recognize that we have to search a little harder and farther to find females who are interested and can do the job.”

Freeman said the department requires managers to receive training on sexual harassment issues and has begun classes that focus on cultural, gender and ethnic differences for all personnel. Goals include enlarging the department’s eligibility lists and devising an outreach program to better prepare recruits for physical agility tests, which are the biggest hurdle for female recruits.

Freeman told commissioners that there have been few complaints of sexual harassment in the department and no one has ever been terminated for that offense.

Several commissioners noted that despite the heavy criticism being lobbed at the city Fire Department, it can boast of more female firefighters--100 on its 3,100 member force--than the county. Some commissioners said after the meeting that they were not satisfied with the county’s progress.