CITY
EMERGENCY SERVICES DEPARTMENT SUSPENDS EMPLOYEE FOR RACIAL EPITHET
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NEWS AND COMMUNITY RELEASE---
(August 1,
2013) — On August 1,
2013 Andrew Jaffee, Director of Emergency Services & Telecommunications
convened a Loudermill Hearing regarding the racial epithet stated by an
Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher on July 22, 2013.
Based on the findings of the investigation and testimony presented during the hearing, Mr. Jaffee found just cause to issue discipline for violation of the City’s “Workplace Violence Policy” and Conduct Unbecoming an Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher.
When issuing discipline, the employee’s past performance, the City’s Progressive Discipline guide, and the seriousness and significance of the incident were considered. As such, the employee will receive a five-day, unpaid suspension to begin Friday, August 2, 2013, and must attend Cultural Diversity training upon his return to work.
In addition, all employees of Emergency Services & Telecommunications will be required to attend Cultural Diversity training.
Based on the findings of the investigation and testimony presented during the hearing, Mr. Jaffee found just cause to issue discipline for violation of the City’s “Workplace Violence Policy” and Conduct Unbecoming an Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher.
When issuing discipline, the employee’s past performance, the City’s Progressive Discipline guide, and the seriousness and significance of the incident were considered. As such, the employee will receive a five-day, unpaid suspension to begin Friday, August 2, 2013, and must attend Cultural Diversity training upon his return to work.
In addition, all employees of Emergency Services & Telecommunications will be required to attend Cultural Diversity training.
It is still interesting that the city has not identified the dispatcher who apparently made the remarks. I am not sure why, but my sources have identified him as Andrew Nichols . Sources have also told me that an arrangement was made to actually , in the end, reduce the suspension to only one day rather than the five detailed in the Press Release above.
Although I think the suspension and diversity training is probably appropriate, where is the accountability for the department head that never notified the Mayor when the incident occurred. Should an e-mail from me to the Mayor's spokesperson be the first time Segarra was made aware of this? Doesn't a Department head have an obligation to advise the Mayor of a potential public relations disaster looming on the horizon?
And if my sources are correct, Jaffe originally denied that a recording of the conversation existed. I guess myself and other reporters kept pushing the issue, knowing that all radio conversations on the City's Radio system were stored on recordings. Late that afternoon the recording surfaced.

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