SAN FRANCISCO—When Larry Jacobs started his career as a firefighter for the San Francisco Fire Department in 2005, he and two other African American firefighters were subjected to racial hazing at the hands of his fellow trainees at the San Francisco Fire Academy in the Treasure Island Training Facility. One such menial task they had him performed was to clean toilets with a toothbrush. They segregated him from joining the other trainees during mealtimes as well, so Jacobs had to eat in his vehicle. He was referred to by the other trainees as ‘houseboy,’ ‘cleaning boy’ or ‘this houseboy.’ In 2013, Jacobs won $175,000 settlement for racial discrimination.
In the following years, he was passed over for promotions five times, alleging he spoke up about the fire academy incidents. Now retired at 60, Jacobs’ claims seemed to have merit that he won another case in 2022, though the City of San Francisco had appealed. According to his bosses, they denied him a promotion because they thought he might cause trouble in the Arson Unit, which was the department he was looking to be hired into.
The city has now reached a settlement of $1.2 million. It is described to be one of the largest whistleblower settlements in San Francisco history.
San Francisco lost the original 2022 case and its appeal, finally settling the case once and for all for $1.2 million earlier this year in 2025. According to Jacobs’ attorney, Jane Brunner, San Francisco Fire Department has deep cultural problems...
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