New Haven...there's got to be something not in the story...

[Dalmatian190]

This story is messed up on so many levels...

The thing that jumped out to me is the suspension was for six months!

Firefighter Sues Over Punishment For Uttering Racial Slur
9:05 AM EDT, April 10, 2006
Associated Press NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A city firefighter who had been suspended after using a racial slur while on the job is suing the city, claiming the punishment was overly harsh.

Carole LaCroix, 33, in a federal lawsuit claims the city violated her constitutional right to equal protection by doling out a six month sentence which was more severe than other firefighters who used racially charged language.

LaCroix's situation developed from a public incident in October 2003 when she was asked to escort representatives from local charities to firehouses to give presentations to solicit donations. LaCroix uttered the racial slur when making reference to the United Negro College Fund.

The six-month suspension was overturned in arbitration and the city was ordered to pay her back wages.

"In the course of the labor arbitration hearings, we learned that the New Haven Fire Department is not a convent, and hurtful words have been said on other occasions without people being immediately taken out to the wood shed and held out to public scorn as a racist," Norman Pattis, LaCroix's lawyer said.

The arbitration panel concluded that LaCroix wasn't acting maliciously. Afterward, LaCroix apologized and blamed the mistake on dyslexia, a reading disorder and nervousness at public speaking.

City Corporation Counsel Thomas W. Ude Jr. said Friday he wasn't aware of any other similar situations in the department, as the lawsuit alleges.

"The Board of Fire Commissioners was acting in good faith," said Ude. "I don't think there's any basis for her claim."

[nmfire]

Trust me, this is the city of New Haven. There is always more to the story than the papers print, and it is usually much worse than it is glossed over to be. The probability of some kind of political non-sense is quite high.