New Developments

Thank you for your attention and obvious passion on this issue.

We, too, are very passionate about and dedicated to complete fairness and equity within this department. I appreciate your reference to the Fox 5 article. I hope you understand the position any government agency or private employer might be in when confronted with personnel issues. They are very private in their nature, and we have an obligation to the employee to keep that information private. It is also a legal obligation. To the extent I am ever able to offer specific information about anything, because the public deserves to know, I do. I can see you are someone who places value on each and every word, as am I. In retrospect, I should have left ‘as possible’ off my statement. The context of that discussion had to do with timeliness of information. We occasionally find that not all information is immediately available to investigators, for whatever reason. ‘As possible’ refers to investigators – in the Fire Department – and any other investigating body – doing the best they can with what they have at the time. That context was not conveyed.

Since Chief Dennis Rubin arrived in April, 2007, this department has undergone a catharsis. In the Fall of last year, each member of our department was instructed by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute’s Equity and Diversity program. This program, produced by one of the most respected fire and rescue organizations in the world, covered issues such as gender and race tolerance, sexual orientation, teamwork and personal and organizational responsibility and accountability. Every person in this agency has taken this course, and it has been a true benefit. This year, Chief Rubin is directing the Department to engage the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institute for an even more in-depth level of instruction on these issues.

We take each complaint of discrimination seriously, and we investigate it fully. Furthermore, the DC Government is interested in fairness and equity in the workplace. We always engage the Metropolitan Police Department and the Inspector General, if necessary, to provide a third party examination of any issue. If any misconduct is found, this department takes swift and appropriate action.

I have attached some materials which may help you understand our direction better. A power point presentation shows our organizational structure in the areas of your concern. A suitability guideline is also attached, which shows you the criteria used when selecting new employees and the standards to which the agency holds it employees. And finally, a personal pledge is attached, which demonstrates the level of personal commitment each of us takes in this job.

I hope this helps you understand our position. If I can provide any assistance at all, please don’t hesitate to call or email me.

Sincerely,

Alan