Fire chief quits over dog food race suit

By Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles
December 02, 2006
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20858376-1702,00.html


THE chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department announced his retirement overnight, succumbing to political pressure over a black fireman who sued the city, claiming racial discrimination, after he was served dog food in his firehouse spaghetti.

Chief William Bamattre, who in recent days saw city leaders demand his firing and accuse the department he led for more than a decade of rampant racism and sexism, said he told Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that he would step down by Jan. 1.

In announcing his departure Chief Bamattre, 54, made no mention of firefighter Tennie Pierce, but a furore over the racial discrimination lawsuit and an aborted $US2.7 million settlement by the city has raged around him for weeks.

The Los Angeles Times quoted an unnamed official who said that Chief Bamattre had become "a liability" for the city.

"Throughout its history the members of this department have prevailed despite many challenges," Chief Bamattre said in a written statement. "Reaffirming our collective unity in commitment and purpose, the LAFD can transform adversity into opportunity."

There was no immediate word on who would replace Chief Bamattre, who took over the fire department of America's second-largest city after his predecessor left amid similar charges of racism and sexism.

Pierce, who sued after fellow firefighters slipped dog food into his spaghetti in 2004, attracted little attention until earlier this month, when the City Council voted to pay him $US2.7 million, one of the largest settlements in city history for a fire department discrimination claim.

The huge payment triggered an uproar, fuelled by popular KFI-AM talk-radio hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, who encouraged listeners to protest by mailing cans of dog food to the council and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo.