Food for thought on racial prank suit

Re “City settles racial prank lawsuit,” Nov. 9

It is sad to report that being a firefighter does not always mean being a hero. The systemic harassment of black firefighters by white firefighters appears to be an ugly secret kept too long, and I disagree that the payout was too much. If the same treatment occurred in a school, it would be considered bullying, and we’ve seen the tragic results of this at Columbine and many other schools over the years. Why should it be more tolerable among so-called adult professionals? Maybe it’s true that boys will be boys, but these are supposed to be men.

FREDERICK CLEVELAND

Hollywood

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If the actions of the two Los Angeles Fire Department captains were such to warrant the $2.7 million, how appropriate is a trivial punishment of one month off without pay? Although most L.A. County residents have great respect for the professionalism of our firefighters, it appears that those two captains failed to provide appropriate leadership both before and after the incident.

The Los Angeles City Council seems to be giving two messages: The incident was major and the settlement is appropriate, or the incident was minor and minor punishment is appropriate. Which is the real message?

J. WILLIAM NEWBOLD

Chatsworth

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The two L.A. fire captains and the firefighter who mixed dog food into a fellow firefighter’s spaghetti should be forced to pay the $2.7 million instead of the citizens of Los Angeles. If those who harass or otherwise abuse a fellow firefighter were forced to shell out of their own pockets, the harassment would soon stop.

WILLIAM H. CORRIGAN

Los Angeles