Posted on 12/01/2006 8:57:11 PM PST by jazusamo
LOS ANGELES — The city's fire chief announced his retirement Friday amid a racially charged furor involving a black firefighter who was served spaghetti mixed with dog food. Chief William Bamattre, 54, said the scandal had "political implications beyond the scope of the Fire Department." "I have become the focus of the debate and that is to the detriment of the LAFD," he said. He planned to step down Jan. 1.
The firefighter who was fed the spaghetti claimed that it was racial discrimination and that he was harassed after reporting it. But other firefighters insisted it was an ordinary firehouse prank with no racist intent. A department investigation suggested the prank was prompted by the way firefighter Tennie Pierce called himself the "Big Dog" during a volleyball game.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Fired Fire Fighter
Hmmmm...
This is ridiculous! This was a prank involving a guy who regularly pulled similar stuff against his fellow firefighters..who then tried to cash in on it--The LA Times irresponsibly and falsely has reported this entirely as a racist incident when it was anything but.
Gud one........LOL
For years fire departments pretty much kept these type things in house, times are changing.
anybody know if the black firefighter is still with the LAFD?
It's all fun and games until someone sees a payday. Then it's harassment and discrimination.
I agree...I think this guy was looking for a lucrative early retirement and he still might get it, but it'll have to be through the courts.
Patterico has a great blog on this today.
Sorry, my post #9 was to fifi.
Disgusting. This man should NOT have to step down.
Nope, kenny has retired, about five weeks after the alpo incident.
You're right, he shouldn't but he's got 31 years in and I'm sure he doesn't want to fight the political end of it and I don't blame him.
Tennie Pierce is cashin' in... he hit the lotto. And the scapegoat for all of this is... Chief William Bamattre. And who pays for it... YOU... the taxpayer.
Tennie Pierce is cashin' in... he hit the lotto. And the scapegoat for all of this is... Chief William Bamattre. And who pays for it... YOU... the taxpayer.
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