Racial Hostility Amid LA Firefighters Prompts Rebuke From Chief

LOS ANGELES, CA — A racially-tinged rift has opened up among Los Angeles Firefighters over a series of debates, namely the NFL player protests. The division has become so heated in recent months that Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas issued a two-page letter calling for firefighters to foster professionalism and mutual respect on the job.

Terrazas said his agency has experienced "on-duty heated discussions regarding the perception of a lack of patriotism by NFL players" who have kneeled during the national anthem, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. In a separate incident, firefighters from different ethnic backgrounds had a "near physical altercation" after someone showed up late to work, Terrazas wrote, according to The Times. In yet another, the department received complaints about "a perceived lack of sensitivity" toward non-white firefighters during an investigation.

"These types of issues and incidents are divisive and can erode our ability to accomplish our collective mission to protect the lives and property of the people of Los Angeles," the chief said in his letter, according to The Times. He added that he expects every firefighter to behave in a way that "fosters a professional and respectful workplace free of discrimination, harassment, retaliation and hazing."

Terrazas’ letter came after Assistant Fire Chief Roy A. Harvey sent a memo claiming black firefighters had experienced "openly hostile and disrespectful comments in person and on social media" from colleagues, Time Times reported.

"I cannot speak for other ethnic groups, but I can assure you that it is highly offensive for me to hear comments about 'ungrateful millionaire black athletes' and what an appropriate way to protest is," Harvey wrote. "It is even more offensive to hear people mistakenly define what is being protested, and decide what a person must do to prove patriotism."

Fox News is "the channel of choice in 80% of the fire stations," Harvey added.

Harvey told the newspaper he spoke up because the tensioned reminded him of the racially contentious years of the past.

"I didn't want to see things go that way," he told The Times.

The letter, posted on the department's internal messaging system, drew praise from Fire Commission President Delia Ibarra, who said it offered a reminder to employees to "treat each other respectfully" when discussing politics.

"It all sort of relates to the Trump effect, because people in workplaces are having political conversations with each other," said Ibarra, an Eric Garcetti appointee, The Times reported. "It's important that Chief Terrazas remind them about being civil. It's all about civility and camaraderie."

City News Service contributed to this report. Photo of Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terraza: AP Photo/Richard Vogel