CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Channel 9 obtained and analyzed years of records and found that sometimes only white people moved through the rankings at the Charlotte Fire Department.
Channel 9’s investigation began after we obtained anonymous letters from employees who claimed the department discriminates against women and minorities who seek promotions.
[PAST COVERAGE: Charlotte's fire chief accused of not promoting women, minorities]
Employees wrote anonymous letters claiming that the fire department has operated under a system of nepotism and that Charlotte fire Chief Jon Hannan has set progress and diversity back 30 years.
Charlotte Fire Department leaders disputed the allegations on Wednesday by saying the process is fair and the department is trying to boost diversity, but the department struggles to recruit women and minorities.
[PAST COVERAGE: CFD leaders respond to allegations of failing to promote women, minorities]
“We don’t have enough diversity not because we don’t want it, we are having a hard time getting it into the organization,” said Charlotte fire Deputy Chief Richard Granger.
But the highest ranking black officer, Charlotte fire Deputy Chief Pete Key, said the issue concerns him and fellow firefighters.
“Yes they do come to me because they want to know what they have to do to know how to prepare,” Key said.
Channel 9 examined captain promotions over the last six years. Of the 565 candidates, 61 were women and minorities, and of those candidates 15 women and minorities were promoted.
Channel 9 took those numbers to Granger.
“Yes that concerns us,” Granger said in response to the numbers.
“When you look at that do you think you all need to make changes?” anchor Brittney Johnson asked.
“I don’t think we need to make changes as far as the process goes,” Granger responded.
[LINK: Charlotte Fire Department Explorer Program]
Charlotte Fire Department leaders said they want to do more mentoring to help more minorities move up. They said they’re also trying to recruit in the inner cities and through partnerships with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the Boy Scouts.
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