Charlotte's fire chief accused of not promoting women, minorities

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Channel 9 has obtained three anonymous letters alleging the Charlotte Fire Department has an unfair and arbitrary promotional process.

The letters were signed by anonymous Charlotte Fire employees. They have also been sent to city manager Marcus Jones and Councilwoman Claire Fallon.

In a letter address to Jones, the anonymous Charlotte Fire employees say there is a "multitude of issues and problems with the current Battalion Chief promotional process."

According to the letter, the 2018 Battalion Chief promotional process was offered in two session.

According to the letter, in both sessions the test booklets were not sealed, "thus breaking the chain of custody and making the test invalid."

The letter claims in 2015 a similar incident occurred and to remedy the matter the test was administered a second time.

The letter raises integrity issues with the promotional test. The letter claims Charlotte Fire leaders receive test scores prior to determining a cutoff score. The cutoff score determines which employees are eligible for a promotion.

The letter asks for Jones to intervene.

"We simply want the candidates to be given an equal chance to compete in a fair process without the unethical influence and the manipulation of test scores," the letter states.

The letter states the cutoff score varies each year and some years there is none.

The anonymous employees are asking for Jones to force a retest without a cutoff score.

"It is apparent that the Fire Chief's decision to not allow a retest and to apply a cutoff score is designed to include certain candidates and eliminate others," the letter states.

Another letter obtained by Channel 9 raises concerns about diversity in the Charlotte Fire Department.

The letter claims the department recently had 123 firefighters test for the ranks of captain and battalion chief.

According to the letter, 35 of the 123 passed the written exam and only two of the 35 were women or minorities. The letter claims both are captains participating for the first time in the battalion chief's promotional process and no women or minorities passed the captain's test.

"Only two women and minorities of 123 qualifying for promotion is inconceivable," the letter states. "The reason for such disparaging numbers is even more disappointing and is directly because of Fire Chief Jon Hannan."

The letter says the fire department's hiring practices and promotional processes are "systematically bias and designed to limit access, opportunity and advancement for women and minorities."

The letter claims Hannan manipulates the promotional process to keep women and minorities in leadership at minimum levels.

"The Fire Chief's fear of promoting an African-American female captain to battalion chief caused him to establish a cutoff score that eliminated over 75 percent of the women and minorities from the process," the letter says. "Fire Chief Hannan's calculated influence of the promotional process throughout his tenure as Fire Chief, especially over the past three years has set diversity and inclusion back for years to come." The letter claims the fire chief uses diversity "like a get out of jail free card."

A third letter obtained by Channel 9 claims it is "virtually impossible for qualified minorities to grow within this department."

Eyewitness News reporter Joe Bruno went to Hannan Wednesday about the allegations.

"Do you have anything to say about the allegations your promotion process is unfair to women and minorities? Bruno asked.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, I haven't seen it," Hannan said.

Soon after that, Sandy D'Elosua, director of corporate communications and marketing, interrupted the questions.

"Why can't we interview the chief?" Bruno asked.

He was told he couldn't ask any more questions.

Councilwoman Claire Fallon also received the anonymous letters. She said the complaints are nothing new but deserve to be investigated.

"It's what goes on and the guys in the fire department are terrified to buck him because he is so vindictive," she said.

The fire chief is promoting a culture of horror and that he should be fired, she said.

"I won't let it go," Fallon said. "You don't run a department in terror. You do not hurt other people."

Shortly before 6, the City of Charlotte released the following statement:

"The City of Charlotte seriously considers and evaluates employee complaints Charlotte Fire Department has a comprehensive promotional process for its leadership roles. The department encourages all eligible personnel to participate."

D'Elousa did not respond to questions about whether the Charlotte Fire Department or Hannan are being reviewed.

The City of Charlotte included these attachments about captain and battalion chief promotions.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: