Valparaiso Fire Chief Suspended Over Racism Allegations

The Commission’s Discussion

The special meeting, which took place an hour before Valparaiso’s commission meeting, was sparsely attended.

Two firefighters sat directly behind Chief Lanier.

Another set of firefighters – the men who accused Lanier – David Gonzalez and Larry Hudson sit in the back as the discussion begins under the parameters set by City Attorney Hayward Dykes.

Dykes explained to the commission and the audience that a special meeting like this can only discuss the personnel matter at hand. The commission has to keep their comments to the question: ‘Did Chief Lanier, as the top fire officer in Valparaiso, use his position to harass or discriminate against Gonzalez or Hudson?’

After offering Lanier’s accusers a chance to speak, which they declined, Smith gave Lanier the floor.

Lanier told the commission how difficult the accusations were for his family and denounced the claims as false. The Chief fought through a sob at the lectern as he defended himself against the accusation he used the slur.

Mayor Brent Smith, who was tasked by the city’s HR manual with making a recommendation about Lanier’s future to the rest of the commission for a vote, spoke first and defended the chief before recommending a week’s unpaid suspension, sensitivity and leadership training and a note about the incident in his personnel file.

Smith told the rest of the commission and the few members of the audience, “I didn’t find in the paperword where I felt like you made it personal toward anybody, if you made it at all,” Smith said. “So, I don’t personally find myself to be the guy who points the finger, saying ‘you did it with intent in your heart.’ I think we’ve all said things before that wasn’t [sic] necessarily directed at anyone,” he added.

Commissioner Chris Wasdin equivocated that a rougher element was needed to protect and serve the residents of Val-p as firefighters. “What I’ve learned about people who want to run towards a fire and not away from it is they’re very ‘rough and ready,’ you might call it. It’s not a genteel, not that [firefighters] aren’t nice, but you tend to talk more brass tacks,” she said. “You have to realize there’s a little bit of roughness that might come with it. And I think that’s something we can live with, I think, but I also read the report thoroughly, and I don’t think you addressed the words towards a person – you were talking about the equipment from what I read. So our equipment may need some work based on your words, but I don’t think you meant it personally towards anyone.”

Commissioner Kay Hamilton, the only commissioner to vote against the punishment, made it clear that the proposal didn’t go far enough. “It seems to me, from when he stood up, he was in denial that he had ever used [the slur]. After I read [the report], I was convinced [that he used the slurs]. So I would have felt better about this solution [suspension without pay, a reprimand, and training] if he had taken responsibility.”

Finally, the newest Valparaiso Commissioner, Bryan Griffin, weighed in. He told the rest of the commission that he was against the use of the slur, but also believed in giving people second chances. “As a department head, I think he’s the face of our city – and I don’t think there is any place for speaking like that,” he noted.

Heads Need to Roll

Mayor Smith made it clear to the commission and the audience – heads needed to roll for this – the heads of the people who reported this.

“I will say the fire department will be monitored by higher-ups,” Smith said before warning against negative conduct in the firehouse. He continued, looking at Chief Lanier, “I would cover myself with people that trust me and believe me. Because I think, based on some of the texts I read going back and forth with some employees, I don’t think everybody in the department needs to be here based on that. I’m not telling anybody to get rid of anybody, but I think there’s a problem on both sides and I think it needs to get addressed by both sides.”

I Thought This Was America?

Since the accusations were made against the Valparaiso Fire Chief last month, a new standard operating procedure (SOP) has been created in Chief Lanier’s office.

The title “Gossip, Defamation, and Conduct Unbecoming” was confirmed by a source independent from the Chief and the fire fighters in the situation – who noted it had been rescinded the day of the Commission meeting.

The SOP, based on the document circulated, attempted to ban “gossip, defamation and any form of communication – verbal, written electronic or digital — that negatively reflects on the City of Valparaiso, the City of Valparaiso Fire Department, or its personnel.”

the SOP banned “rumors or falsehoods, making derogatory or inflammatory comments about coworkers, supervisors, city officials or the department, sharing confidential or sensitive information without proper authorization,” and “posting or sharing content on social media or messaging platforms that undermines the credibility, professionalism, or integrity of the department or it’s personnel.”

The policy, which was approved June 20 by Chief Lanier, applied to all forms of communications by firefighters on or off duty.

That’s a First Amendment violation, as the Fire Department is a public employer.

This isn’t the first time a public official in Valparaiso has been accused of attempting to circumvent the First Amendment to protect the reputation of the city.

Now What?

With that meeting behind the commission, the logistics of the unpaid suspension for Lanier will need to be sorted out.

Commissioners talked briefly about it and asked the fire chief to work with the city attorney to figure out how to allow him to serve his suspension while ensuring adequate fire coverage for the residents of Valparaiso.

In the regular commission meeting, Lanier noted the hiring of two new full-time employees – a new Lieutenant and a new driver/engineer to help fill the ranks of the department.