UNITED STATES FILES RACIAL HARASSMENT CHARGES AGAINST PATTONVILLE-BRIDGETON MISSOURI FIRE DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department today announced the filing of a federal lawsuit alleging racial harassment by the Pattonville-Bridgeton Fire Protection District (“Pattonville FPD”). Specifically, the lawsuit contends that Pattonville FPD created and condoned a racially hostile work environment, driving out the only African-American firefighter to ever have served there.

"Firefighting is among the oldest and noblest of our public services,” said R. Alexander Acosta, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The opportunity to make such a civic contribution must in no way be limited on the basis of race. All capable and qualified individuals willing to serve our communities as firefighters must be welcome.”

The United States filed its complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. Throughout its history, Pattonville FPD has only employed one African-American firefighter, doing so from 1989 through 2003. During that period, the complaint alleges, that firefighter was the target of severe racial harassment. His co-workers and supervisors subjected him to harassing conduct, including the repeated use of racial slurs to describe him and other African-Americans. This conduct reached its peak in June 2002, when a co-worker or supervisor allegedly carved the racial epithet “n----r” into the driver’s side door of his car. In addition, the complaint alleges, the lone African-American firefighter was treated differently from white co-workers in terms of pay and benefits. Finally, the complaint alleges, Pattonville FPD forced him to resign his position in February 2003.

The United States’ request for intervention is grounded in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers from discriminating against employees and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, or religion. The Justice Department enforces Title VII as to state and local governments.

The continued enforcement of Title VII is a major priority of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. To date, the Division has opened 63 investigations of state and local governments accused of illegal employment discrimination in fiscal year 2004. During the same period, the Division has also filed seven lawsuits alleging illegal employment discrimination.

Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at <http://www.usdoj.gov/crt.html.>.

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