SCANDALS HAMPER RECRUITING L.A. FIRE DEPARTMENT LAGS ON DIVERSITY HIRING.

Byline: KERRY CAVANAUGH Staff Writer

Beset by revelations of harassment, discrimination and hazing on the job, the Los Angeles Fire Department has a new problem: The number of women and African-American recruits hired has dropped significantly.

There were no females or black firefighters hired in the last half of 2006, according to Personnel Department statistics. And the first class of 2007, which starts next week, is expected to have few African-Americans and women as well.

City officials, facing a long-term struggle to have a Fire Department that reflects the city's demographics, believe a recent series of high-profile incidents has made their job of recruiting more difficult.

``I know it's having an impact,'' said Battalion Chief Brian Cummings, who is the commander of recruitment services.

``Every time I see our department in a negative light, I know it's turning candidates away from our department. If I'm a candidate and I have the qualifications, maybe I'll make Los Angeles City my second choice.''

Over the past year the LAFD has been criticized for tolerating incidents of hazing and harassment in its ranks, leading to the recent retirement of longtime Chief William Bamattre.

In early 2006, City Controller Laura Chick audited the department and found low morale among women, rookies and minorities, and concerns about a hostile work environment prevented employees from reporting bad behavior for fear of retaliation.

The audit prompted major overhaul of the department's discipline system and human relations training that's now under way. But the controversy reignited in November when the city considered paying $2.7 million to Tennie Pierce, a black firefighter who sued the department for discrimination and retaliation after he was tricked into eating dog food by his colleagues.

Bamattre retired under pressure because of his inability to change the firehouse culture, and Interim Chief Douglas Barry was promoted to carry out the reforms.

``When we reflect the community we serve, we do a better job of serving that community,'' Cummings said. ``We want people to look into a crowd of Nomex and see someone who looks like them and sounds like them.''

This year, the Personnel Department has an extra $300,000 in addition to its annual Fire Department recruitment budget of $105,000 to help attract women, African-American and Hispanic candidates.

The city has rented billboards in predominantly black and Latino neighborhoods. It has dedicated more staff time to reaching women in college athletic programs and the military, who are more likely to meet the physical strength requirements.

A new plan

Now, the Fire Department is drafting a new plan to focus attention on women and minorities by mentoring them through the hiring process. Starting this year, Deputy Chief Emile Mack hopes to pair prospective candidates with firefighters who advise them and call them at each step of the application process.

``The candidates we're reaching out to may or may not have thought about a career in the fire service, like women or people of color,'' said Mack, who oversees training and risk management for the LAFD.

``We have to show women and people of color that we want you and we're willing to do everything possible to show and help you through the process to show you that we want you on LAFD. It's a change in philosophy and it's about time we did it.''

The LAFD is now in a hiring spree, adding around 250 new members a year to replace retiring firefighters. The department has always had more candidates than openings, but the majority of applicants are white men and the department wants to have a force that reflects the city's diverse demographics.

That's been a challenge.

In 1974, the city and federal government established a consent decree that required the LAFD to hire and retain women and minorities.

Order lifted

The order was lifted in 2002 after a federal judge decided the city had met its hiring goals.

Since 1980, the percentage of African-American firefighters has increased from nearly 8 percent to as much as 13 percent -- which matches the percentage of African-Americans in Los Angeles.

Still, Capt. Armando Hogan, president of the Stentorians, the African-American firefighters association, said he's troubled by the low number of minorities hired recently.

``We don't have the diverse numbers I'd like to see,'' said Hogan, whose group is helping the recruitment effort.

``We're losing people in different parts of the process. We need to look at that and quantify what we're doing right and, more importantly, what we're doing wrong.''

The number of Hispanic firefighters has jumped from 17 percent in 1980 to 31 percent last year.

There's been a smaller increase in Asian-Americans, from 2.6 percent in 1980 to 4.8 percent last year.

In 1980, there were no female firefighters in the LAFD (though there were female paramedics). The first woman was sworn in as a firefighter in 1983, and by 1994 women made up 5.4 percent of the department.

Fewer women

However, the number of women on the job has since declined and now women make up 2.8 percent of the department -- about the rate they staff fire departments nationally.

A lot of women express interest in the LAFD. Females accounted for 1,700 -- or 24 percent -- of the 7,000 potential candidates for the department in 2006.

But then women only made up 2 percent of candidates who applied and took the written exam.

Mack said the department will seek more money this budget year to pair female candidates with staff to encourage them through recruitment.

``Once you apply, then you could get a mentor who could call you weekly and help you through the process.''

Battalion Chief Cummings said the department is also trying to change stereotypes of what is and isn't a woman's job.

``We want to get out the message that the fire service is a career for women, at a younger age. In middle school, high school, we're saying, this is something to think about as they get older.''

Potential candidates at a recent LAFD information and training session said they're not deterred by stories of hazing or harassment in the LAFD.

Marine Roxana Navarro, 21, of Moreno Valley is used to tough physical training and likes the excitement of the firefighting as well as being on duty in 24-hour shifts that allow several days off each week.

``I think some girls know better than a lot of guys. I'm used to working with all males so I'm not worried,'' she said.

``I've been looking at other departments and I've decided I want this one. I don't know why, maybe because it's harder to get into.''

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

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Source: Los Angeles City Personnel Department

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