Six Miami Firefighters Terminated For Racially Offensive Behavior
Six Miami firefighters have been terminated following an investigation into a noose and sexually explicit drawings left on a black firefighter’s family photos.
The incident took place on September 9, 2017, when a noose made out a twine was found draped over a family photo of a black firefighter in Station 12. In addition, several personal photos were defaced with obscene drawings, including a penis that was drawn on a photo of the man’s wife.
The investigation was initiated by the police due to the possibility of criminal vandalism charges, but was reassigned to the police internal affairs unit who turned the results over to Fire Chief Joseph Zahralban.
The president of Miami Firefighters, IAFF Local 587 Freddy Delgado, was quoted by the Miami Herald as saying:
- We expect all of our members to be provided a safe, comfortable workplace and also to fair and complete investigations and just discipline when it’s warranted.
- We have not yet been provided with all the information that the city relied upon in making the decisions it did today.
- We are very disturbed by the allegations and look forward to the opportunity to review all the facts.
UPDATED 11/4/17
