JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Issues surrounding Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Station 18 continue to swirl, after an Equal Employment Opportunity filing stated the atmosphere at the Durkeeville station was at times tense and unhealthy.
Employees at the fire station originally came under the microscope back in December. That's when an investigation was opened after a firefighter found a racially charged image on a station computer.
The inquiry by officers at the EEO into personnel at the station began after allegations arose in recent months of taunting, unrest and city employees not conducting themselves in a professional manner.
The EEO report states that their investigators tried to substantiate the cause of the hostile atmosphere but were unable to find the motivation behind the acts at the fire station.
The report states numerous recommendations that should be acted upon to prevent the work atmosphere from escalating to a hostile level.
Recommendations include:
- Holding officers and chiefs assigned to the station accountable for the station's atmosphere.
- Ensure that proper relief is being made by everyone as per JFRD's policies and procedures.
- Ensure that the Chiefs on each shift explain what is expected of the staff and hold staff accountable.
- "Cease and Desist" orders be issued to discontinue any form of taunting, to the staff at Station 18 until further correction and/or resolutions can be made.
First Coast News has reached out to JFRD to learn what actions will be taken as part of the recommendations to ease tensions at the fire station, and we are still waiting on their response.
