CFD leaders respond to allegations of failing to promote women, minorities

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Fire Department has responded to allegations that the department is not promoting women and minorities.

Channel 9 has been investigating several anonymous letters from employees who claim an unfair promotional process that hurts women and minorities.

Fire department leaders admitted that they have a problem with diversity.

They said they struggle to hire women and minorities, but they said they’re trying and they dispute the accusations in the anonymous letters of excluding qualified applicants.

Several employees claim that there is an unfair promotional process at the fire department, and they blame fire Chief John Hannan.

Employees wrote anonymous letters claiming that the fire department has operated under a system of nepotism and that Hannan has set progress and diversity back 30 years.

Channel 9 took the concerns to Deputy Chief Rich Granger, who said he hadn’t read the letters.

The letters said it's impossible for minorities to advance within CFD. One letter suggests that Hannan changed an exam cut-off score to prevent an African-American fire captain from being promoted.

Another letter describes years of abusive power.

The head of the NAACP, who was also at a media briefing, said several employees are preparing lawsuits.

Granger told Channel 9 that the process is fair, the letters are false and the department is trying to boost diversity, but it is struggling to recruit women and minorities.

“They are being promoted. I can show you many, many examples, but when you have a department of 1,200 and 90 percent of that is white, the vast majority of the promotions are going to be white,” Granger said.

Councilwoman Claire Fallon told Channel 9 that the letters are nothing new but deserve to be investigated.

The city did not say whether Hannan or the fire department is under review. It said CFD has a comprehensive promotional process for leadership roles and that it takes employee complaints seriously.

When Channel 9 first approached Hannan about the letters, he said he wasn't aware of the complaints.

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