Racism? Or Sour Grapes?

Since a new assistant chief came to power, a black firefighter charged, his fellow black firefighters have been contending with racist comments on the job and unequal punishment.

To which that assistant chief responded: You’re ​“slandering” me because you’re jealous you didn’t get my job.

The barbs flew in a top-floor meeting at fire department headquarters on Olive Street, where the Board of Fire Commissioners convened on 2:30 p.m. Friday.

The matter at hand was ostensibly a charge of tardiness by Firefighter Reginald Blakey, who is alleged to have been a half-hour late for work last November.

But the conversation soon lurched into larger questions about behavior in the department.

The New Haven Firebird Society, an organization of African-American firefighters, alleges that black firefighters are subject to racist comments and harsh discipline and retaliation because of their race. Firefighter Darrell Brooks leveled those charges Friday afternoon, saying that they coincide with Assistant Chief Pat Egan assuming leadership in the department.

Egan called the claims categorically untrue. He said Brooks is engaged in a ​“smear campaign” that he speculated might be a result of being passed over for promotion.

After two hours of contentious discussion, and a brief closed-door executive session, the commission voted to table the matter until July 18 at 3:30 p.m.

City Corporation Counsel Victor Bolden said that mayor has asked him to look into the allegations of discrimination in the fire department. The Board of Aldermen has also called for a probe.

Friday’s meeting was the second time in four days that those complaints were aired in public. They were the subject of a similarly contentious hearing on Tuesday by the Board of Aldermen’s Public Safety Committee.

Egan was not at the Tuesday aldermanic hearing. Friday’s commissioners meeting presented him with his first chance to publicly defend himself.

Brooks vs. Egan

Brooks delivered to the commissioners a letter from the Firebirds decrying a ​“culture and persistent climate of racial discrimination, retaliation, intimidation and harassment” in the department. Shortly before 4 p.m., the commission gave him a chance to speak about it.

Brooks called for a ​“thorough investigation” of ​“conduct in the chief’s office.” He said the unacceptable practices stem from Egan’s office.

Brooks said Egan’s prosecution of the Blakey case was retaliation for the Firebirds going to the Board of Aldermen with their complaints.

“That is absolutely, absolutely untrue,” Egan (at right in photo) said.

“He wants to have a smear campaign against this office, and me in particular,” Egan said. He said Brooks might be after him because he ​“applied for the job I got.”

“What is being said here is an absolute lie,” Egan said. He called Brooks’ statement ​“libelous” and ​“unfounded.”

Commission chair George Longyear said that in his 13 years on the board, he hasn’t heard this kind of dissension. ​“Now all of a sudden we have a new assistant chief,” he said. ​“I’m getting tired of this personal resentment. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t need it.”

Chief Grant later spoke up on behalf of Egan. He said Egan has only ever worked for ​“the betterment of the department.”

“I’ve never known him to do anything discriminatory toward anybody. I stand behind him 100 percent,” said Grant.

Late Lateness Discipline

The bulk of the commissioners’ meeting was focused on the case of Firefighter Blakey (pictured), who is alleged to have shown up late for work last November, the most recent of several such offenses for which he has received suspensions in the past.

Attorney Patty Cofrancesco, representing Blakey, turned the tardiness charge on the department, asking why it was so late in pursuing discipline for the lateness charge. She submitted a packet of documents in Blakey’s defense, including a definition of the word ​“prompt.”

Cofrancesco (pictured) laid out a timeline of delayed investigation and prosecution of the charge against Blakey. She hammered on the point that the commission was being to asked to consider an alleged offense now seven months old.

Egan countered that the matter was delayed at the request of the union, which was trying to work out better deal for Blakey. ​“The union asked for this.”

Frank Ricci, union vice-president, acknowledged that he had sought to delay the proceedings against Blakey, to avoid having him appear before the fire commission.

Jimmy Kottage, head of the firefighters union, said Blakey’s case was a matter of ​“no harm, no foul.” Firefighters regularly call in if they’re going to be late for their shift, and get someone from the previous shift to stay over a few minutes to cover for them, Kottage said. ​“It happens all the time.”

But that’s not what happened, Egan said. Blakey didn’t call in, and his supervisor had to hold someone over for him, Egan said. ​“He didn’t contact anyone before 0800 hours,” when his shift was set to begin. He didn’t call until 8:15 a.m., and didn’t show up until 8:30 a.m., Egan said.

Blakey was late for work because he overslept, Kottage said. He pointed out that Blakey is a busy father to three young children.

Blakey has been suspended four times for not showing up on time, Egan said. Blakey was disciplined for violations in May and June 2012, July and November 2010, and July 2009. Four of those were for absence or lateness, the fifth was related to sick leave.

Investigation?

After the meeting wrapped up with plans to have another meeting, chair Longyear (pictured) was asked if the commission will look into the allegations of discrimination. He said the commission will try to put together a ​“bipartisan” committee to investigate, and said the union and the chief’s office will submit nominations.

“We’re going to ask for an investigation of some of these allegations,” Longyear said.

Egan interrupted to say the mayor’s office should be consulted, and interrupted further questions to the commissioner by repeating the statement.

Longyear adjusted his position, saying the commission will speak to the mayor’s office about an investigation.

“The mayor asked me to review any issues regarding the department,” Bolden said. He said he is looking into the matter.