Discrimination In DeKalb County (Ga.)?

Darnell McGavock discusses an interesting and growing discrimination controversy in the DeKalb County, Georgia, fire department. A similar controversy is also roiling the waters of the police department, and employees in the Parks and Recreation department have also complained of discriminatory promotion practices.

With regard to the firefighters’ complaint:

DeKalb firefighter’s union leaders say a newly-released tape contains a conversation between county Human Resources Director Joe Stone and Assistant County Administrator Morris Williams.

Stone was talking about Fire Chief David Foster’s promotion recommendations.

“He tried to promote to battalion chief but he wants to pick ’em from a population that is solid snow white already. Now he’s got to cut that s*** out with Vernon,” Stone said on the tape. “We don’t promote anybody until you figure out how to fix the problem.”

….

The tape is also laced with profanity as well as racial slurs, including the “N” word. Both men recorded on the tape are black. The firefighters’ union says it may take the tape to the Equal Employment Opportunity commission, or pursue other legal action.

Vernon Jones, DeKalb County chief executive, released a statement claiming that he

does not and will not tolerate any form of discrimination throughout Dekalb County government. Chief David Foster approves all hiring and makes promotions based on merit, not on a racial basis. The improperly recorded tape does not reflect the position or the views of DeKalb County or its CEO.”

I’m sure that statement will convince all disgruntled firefighters, police, and parks workers that the racial discrimination they believe they’ve seen and experienced is a figment of their imaginations.

It certainly must be a relief to all concerned that affirmative action is not “divisive.”