City Establishes Fund to Settle Bias Claims

As part of an agreement Tuesday with the U.S. Justice Department, the city will establish a $78,799 fund for members of minority groups who can prove that they were discriminated against when turned down for firefighting jobs.

In addition, city officials said Fullerton will continue its diversity training and launch a publicity campaign for minority applicants when firefighter and police positions become available.

In 1995, the Justice Department concluded a yearlong investigation that found the Fullerton police and fire departments had consistently engaged in racial discrimination and were potentially liable for thousands of dollars in lost salary and benefits to victims of these practices.

From 1986 to 1993, none of the 19 firefighters hired by the city was of a minority group, and only 10 of the 86 entry-level police officers hired were minorities, according to the investigation.

“The city has denied all of the allegations,” said David C. Larsen, an attorney from the Costa Mesa law firm of Ruttan & Tucker, who is representing Fullerton.

“By entering into this settlement agreement, the city does not acknowledge any discrimination,” Larsen said.

Larsen said other cities have spent millions of dollars defending themselves against similar allegations.

He said any person who took and failed a written examination for a firefighting job in 1989 could be eligible to file a discrimination claim.

The Justice Department said the exam was unlawful, invalid and not related to the firefighting job.