Tag Archives: harassment

NJ Fire Inspector Awarded $1 Million

A New Jersey fire inspector who claims he was harassed because he cited various businesses with close ties to the mayor for fire code violations, has been awarded over $1 million by a Superior Court jury. The city of Elizabeth ...

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Nebraska Captain Claims He was Victim of Retaliation

A Lincoln, Nebraska fire captain who claims he has been subjected to retaliation since he reported the harassment of recruits in 2011, has filed suit in federal court. Troy Hurd filed suit in US District court last Friday against the City of Lincoln and six ranking officers in the fire department.

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Connecticut Fire Department Sued For Sex, Race and Ethnicity Discrimination

A male firefighter with the Danbury, Connecticut Fire Department is suing the city, Mayor Bernard Meehan, a deputy chief, the present fire chief, the past fire chief and his union alleging sex discrimination/harassment, race discrimination and ethnicity discrimination. Reynoldo Rodriguez, who describes himself as being “of Puerto Rican-American Hispanic descent”, filed an 81 page - 236 paragraph – 12 count complaint earlier this year.

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Jacksonville Sexual Harassment Suit Settled

A sexual harassment suit filed by a Jacksonville Fire Rescue lieutenant last year has been settled. Candice Buckner agreed to settle her claims in exchange for the city agreeing to pay her $25,000, provide her with an additional 150 hours of leave, and provide “officer level training” on sexual harassment.

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Six New Jersey Firefighters Under Investigation

Six New Jersey firefighters have been suspended or removed as an investigation is underway into allegations of sexual harassment of a female firefighter, sending threatening text messages, and forcing of a vehicle off a road. The firefighters are all volunteers from the town of Hammonton, and reportedly all of the conduct involved members of the department as perpetrators and victims

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Patterson Settles Retaliation Suit With Dispatcher For $80k

A New Jersey dispatcher who sued the Patterson Fire Department in federal court over harassment he sustained after reporting misconduct by two firefighters has received an $80,000 settlement. Robert Connizzo claimed that co-workers harassed, assaulted, and retaliated against him for informing superior officers about a conversation he overheard on a recorded line.

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Indiana Firefighter Sues Over Noose Incident

An Indiana firefighter who was tossed a noose during a training exercise has filed a lawsuit in federal court naming chief who tossed the noose. Marion firefighter Mikel Neal and his wife, Rachelle Fears-Neal, have filed suit against former Deputy Chief Rick Backs. The four-page complaint alleges a single count of a due process violation.

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Noose Incident Prompts Apologies, Demotion, and a Lawsuit

A white assistant chief in Indiana who threw a noose to a black firefighter during a knot tying exercise has been demoted to firefighter. The incident has also prompted a race discrimination suit by the black firefighter. Former Marion Fire Department Assistant Chief Rick Backs created the noose during a training exercise last February exercise and reportedly threw it toward firefighter Mikel Neal. The incident sparked racial tensions in the city of Marion that brought back recollections of lynchings that occurred as late as the 1930s.

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Connecticut Firefighter Claims Religious Discrimination

A Hamden, Connecticut firefighter has filed suit claiming the city discriminated against him on account of his religion because he refused to do things like march in a Memorial day parade and raise the American flag. Ray Pouncey, an 18 year veteran of the Hamden Fire Department, claims he has been forced to endure a hostile work environment for years. Pouncey is a Jehovah Witness.

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Denver Firefighter Claims ADA Violation For PTSD

A Denver firefighter has filed suit claiming the department’s handling of his post-traumatic stress disorder violated the Americans With Disabilities Act, and that the reaction of his officers to his military reserve commitment violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

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Queensland Fire Services Culture of Shame

It’s being referred to as a “culture of shame” and while it is Australia, its not all that different from what we are seeing in some fire departments here in the US. The Queensland Fire & Emergency Services is reeling following the release of an 80-page report on the status of women in their organization...

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