Crime & Safety
AlCo Firefighter Suspended Following Alleged Off-Duty Racist Outburst
In a video spreading on social media, the firefighter made the comments following a collision in the Central Valley.
ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA —An Alameda County firefighter has been placed on paid administrative leave after making what Fire Chief William McDonald called "racial comments" toward a community member while off-duty.
In a video posted to social media, the firefighter could be seen standing outside a car, accusing its driver of causing an accident. When the driver suggested that police should resolve the dispute, the firefighter called the driver a "dumbass Mexican." Later in the interaction, the firefighter referred to the driver as a "Filipino b--ch."
At a press conference Monday, McDonald said the Alameda County Fire Department is not classifying the comments as racist until it completes an investigation into the circumstances around the interaction.
Find out what's happening in Castro Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"I consider it embarrassing behavior and something that's not supported by the department," McDonald said.
While McDonald said that the circumstances did not excuse the firefighter's comments, he said the department would not take further disciplinary action until it investigates.
Find out what's happening in Castro Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
In the video, the firefighter doubled down on his comments, repeatedly calling the driver a Mexican or a Filipino, using the terms as epithets. When the driver accused him of racism, the firefighter responded, "I'm not f--king racist. I'm a f--king firefighter."
"I don't think that there's any shield against racism because you're a firefighter," McDonald said Monday.
In the video, the driver also alleges that the firefighter spat on them. "I'll f--king spit on you all f--king day," the firefighter said in response.
McDonald said he watched the video, spoke to the firefighter, and "admonished" him for his actions. The firefighter, who has worked for the department since 2004, expressed remorse for his comments, McDonald said.
At the Monday event, McDonald offered a public apology to the driver on behalf of the firefighter and the department.
"Such behavior is not representative of who we are, whether the department or our values we strive to embody every day," McDonald said.
Copyright © 2024 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.
