SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
Another racial discrimination lawsuit has been filed against the city of Sacramento. This time, by a battalion chief who has been with the Sacramento Fire Department for nearly 30 years.
In the lawsuit that was filed at the Sacramento County Superior Court, Battalion Chief Jonathan Burgess said the fire department's upper leadership "fosters a culture of race-based discrimination in promoting within the ranks," the department undermined him as a battalion chief, and he was retaliated against, among other things.
The allegations also extend to the fire department's newly appointed chief.
Here are some of the allegations outlined in the lawsuit:
2018 — Battalion Chief Burgess disciplined a firefighter who violated the same policy multiple times. The lawsuit states that his disciplinary actions were not supported, and Burgess was referred to as a "cancer in the department".
2019 — Burgess, was removed from the Battalion Chief Exam Committee. Burgess, who served as a subject matter expert, was the only African American Battalion Chief on the exam committee. He "ascertained that the removal was racially motivated" by two deputy chiefs.
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