Dancy Communications Network - The DCN
Curmilus Dancy II The Political Agitator
252.314.5484 Cell 252.827.5484 Home 252.827.4598 Fax
thepoliticalagitator@earthlink.net
At the end of the day, it is not our enemies we remember,
but the silence of our friends! Dr. Martin L. King
EXCLUSIVE
ASST. FIRE CHIEF PASSED OVER BY CITY MANAGER
By Cash Michaels
Editor
One of Raleigh’s assistant Fire Chiefs has written a scathing letter to City Manager J. Russell Allen, chastising him for choosing a candidate from Philadelphia to be the next Fire Chief, instead of recognizing the qualifications, contributions and sacrifices of an internal candidate who has long served the city.
In a letter copied to Mayor Charles Meeker and the Raleigh City Council, and obtained exclusively by The Carolinian, Asst. Fire Chief Larry Stanford laments that John T. McGrath, the Deputy Fire Commissioner of Operations for the past year in Philly, was chosen to succeed retiring Fire Chief Earl Fowler.
"With great pride and dignity, I have served the management team and the citizens of Raleigh, North Carolina for the past 25-1/2 years." Chief Stanford wrote. "I am extremely disappointed and disheartened by your selection of Mr. McGrath as the new Fire Chief of Raleigh. I have reviewed the resume of Mr. McGrath and with the exception of him coming from a larger city, it appears that our educational background, national associations, experience, and tenure in management positions are practically equal."
"I am a highly qualified, competent and diverse employee and feel that my commitment and contribution to the City of Raleigh should have been valued more highly. I have been conscientious to prepare myself to lead the Raleigh Fire Department and feel that I should have been given the opportunity. "
Stanford, who has five years before retirement, continued, "I am also concerned that by you deliberately omitting to reward an internal qualified candidate, you are sending an unhealthy message to City employees that you do not value the service and sacrifices that are made on behalf of the organization and citizens. The manner in which I have been handled by the City will become a bitter measuring stick by which others will begin to evaluate their contributions to the City. In essence, making the decision to select an outside candidate when qualified personnel are already employed with the City sends the message that being a long term productive employee does not count when a Department Head position is available. "
"You told me that Mr. McGrath has established himself as a national leader. I too have involved myself, have affiliations, and hold offices with national associations as well. To overlook my professional stewardship at such a significant juncture in my career is alarming to me. "
It’s also alarming to many The Carolinian spoke with in the African-American community, including members of the NAACP, and retired Raleigh firefighter Welton Jones, who Tuesday during the Raleigh City Council meeting, challenged Manager Allen to explain why Chief Stanford was passed over when his qualifications were at least equal to McGrath’s.
Though Stanford, who has withheld public comment, hasn’t said it, Jones has no problem identifying why.
"Chief Stanford didn’t get it because he is black," Mr. Jones told The Carolinian this week.
Hired as the second African-American ever to serve on the Raleigh Fire Department, Jones says the "good old boy" culture of the department hasn’t changed much since he was there, and retired in 1988.
Jones says he refused to go along to get along, and thus, was only promoted once during his tenure at the RFD. That was only after he took the department to court in 1972.
With 500 firefighters on duty today, and only 54 of them black (no women), Jones has been demanding statistical information from the city’s Personnel Dept. to determine why, in a city that’s 27 percent black, the fire department only has a measly 10 percent in its ranks.
"There’s something wrong, and they’re not doing anything about it," Mr. Jones, who has offered to help in recruiting efforts, claims.
Even Chief Fowler admits that the department has not been aggressive in its outreach efforts to black and Latino communities.
So far, despite one meeting about the matter last year, neither the RFD, nor City Manager Allen, has moved decisively to improve the numbers with qualified people of color.
"Statistics and experience have proven that healthy organizations build diverse management and employee structures at every level," Chief Stanford wrote to Manager Allen. "This helps to ensure that the true needs of a diverse population are served. Without having to do much research, it is obvious that diversity is much needed in the management ranks in Raleigh. I was hopeful that you would be the one to boldly step out, to set the example, and to "make the statement" that we have a qualified minority candidate who is capable of leading the Raleigh Fire Department with creative non-traditional ideas and programs. I was the candidate ready to use "out of the box thinking, " to constantly evaluate the programs, policies and procedures, and to ensure that the organization is meeting the intended needs and serving the targeted audience."
Stanford continued, "By selecting an outside candidate that is a white male sends the message to the 90% white population of the fire department that management agrees with and is satisfied to continue with the inequities demonstrated in hiring, promotional and selection practices in the City. Your recent appointment re-enforces the wrongful thinking that only white men are qualified to lead the Fire Department."
Ironically, Manager Allen praised the outgoing Fire Chief for his longevity and leadership. Fowler, who had been with the department for 34 years after following his father, who was also a firefighter, had served as chief since 1999.
"What an outstanding career; that's about all you can say about 34 years as a leader in the field of public safety," said Manager Allen in a news release. "Earl is the consummate fire professional who has provided terrific regional leadership."
There are those who say so did Fire Marshal Stanford.
Stanford has been the spokesperson for the RFD both to the public, and to the Raleigh City Council when policy is being devised.
As Fire Marshal, he has been responsible for educating the public about fire safety, especially during the holidays.
When a major fire in the city occurred, it was Stanford, not Fowler, who advised the news media about the details.
He served several terms on the Firemen’s Relief Fund Board of Trustees.
Chief Stanford has also been lauded for his professionalism by the citizens.
According to the Raleigh City Council minutes of April 7, 1998, "Mayor Fetzer read a letter to Fire Chief Sandy from Dan C. Auston. The letter commended the Fire Department, particularly Chief Larry Stanford for the way in which the department responded to and helped during a recent fire at the Quail Corner Shopping Center."
Again from the Council minutes, this time June 3, 2003, "Mayor Meeker recognized Assistant Chief – Fire Marshal Larry Stanford who recently completed the Executive Fire Officer Program. Mayor Meeker stated that program is being offered through the National Fire Academy and consists of one two-week class per year for four years. Within six months after each class, the student is required to complete a research project. Mayor Meeker presented Assistant Chief Stanford with a framed certificate in recognition of the dedication and commitment."
Friends of Chief Stanford say there is no question he has worked hard to be the top man of the RFD, and has made the department, and the city proud.
Now, with a new chief coming in from the outside, Stanford may face demotion from his high position, as McGrath undoubtedly will reorganize.
They say that, and the city’s poor handling of recruiting more qualified RFD candidates of color, would be a bitter pill for the city’s African-American community.
"I have given the City of Raleigh twenty-five and one-half years of dedicated service above and beyond the call of duty," Stanford wrote to Manager Allen in his letter. "I aspired to complete my remaining years of service as the Chief of the Department. My plans have been shattered as it appears the new Chief will serve beyond my time to retire. "
"Although very disheartened, my family and I are content living in Raleigh with no plans to relocate. My remaining years of employment will be spent doing as I have done in the past, giving my very best service to make Raleigh a better and safer place for the employees, citizens, visitors and all who work here. I also plan to support the new Fire Chief in the same manner which I have supported previous Fire Chiefs and City Officials."
Chief Stanford ended his letter requesting a meeting with Manager Allen to discuss "what roles and/or positions are available for me within the City over the next five years."
Chief McGrath, who has been with the Philadelphia Fire Dept. for 32 years, takes over the RFD on Feb. 1.
-30-
NOTE: No I do not live in Raleigh nor do I know Asst. Fire Chief Larry Stanford however my resources have contacted me on this issue. I heard a couple of people call in on Connections a 104.3 Talk Show 10:00 AM this morning concerning this issue. One person stated he is a neighbor to Stanford and he was outraged. This is enough for me at the moment.
I tuned in to "At Issues Forum" on TV NBC-17at 11:00 AM this morning and the Mayor Pro Tem James West addressing the this issue along with Cash Michaels and the two other co-host. It appears that the Fire Department has some issues how it promotes blacks and West had made a suggestion into how they should have a better recruiting process for the fire department. I believe he stated that they could use the one similar to the local Police Department. West stated that he will be bringing the issue up at the next meeting? Black leaders of Raleigh where will you be when the next meeting take place?
It is a damn shame that I have to bring my children up in a society that the majority of black folks sit back and allow these types of issues to take place in our communities. What kind of message are we sending to our children?
We tell our children to go to school and do their best and then go on to college and then go to work and start a family. After they do all of this and one day our children feel they would like to move upward and apply for the higher authorative positions and etc. they are afraid. Why? Because some of you have applied for positions and have been discriminated against and you didn't say a damn word. You see when that happens you make it harder for the next person because you are signing off on some b.s. and it makes the oppressor feel he/she can do it to the next person. This is not limited to one particular entity because when it is allowed to happen over here the b.s. flows over there.
I am glad to say that I have never ever allowed mess like this to happen in my area without speaking out even if I was not involved directly. I do not allow it because I do not want it to flow from there to here so the oppressors will know not to fool with me. I understand that some people are afraid to speak out because of security but I must ask the question have you talked to your pastor or a local minister, your community leaders NAACP and other organizations?
It is strange how some things just happen to happen around the MLK Celebrations and leading up to Black History Month. My guess is that the oppressors are sending us a message that you can have your King Celebrations and celebrate Black History but they want you to know that at the end of the day they are still in control of keeping you right where you are. Oh hell, I mean oh well.
My last question to black men (those of you who call yourselves leaders, ministers, elected officials, masons, members of fraternities, NAACP, SCLC and others) when will each president or whoever from the different groups begin to call each other and deal with black issues? Yes I left off the black women, but only because I feel that if and when the black men get it together they will support us 100%. TPA