Ohio Township in Soup for Fire Department's Actions

LIMA — Shawnee Township will pay $10,000 to the Columbus Jewish Federation as part of an agreement ordered by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The punishment was one of three actions ordered by the EEOC after investigating the Shawnee Township Fire Department. The department must all provide its workers training on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with a focus on religious/racial harassment. Also, the department will require its workers to immediately report all future complaints to the township trustees as soon as the complaint is received.

The complaint was filed by former Shawnee Township Firefighter Paul Way shortly after he was fired by the Shawnee Fire Department Dec. 11, 2012. Way submitted the complaint to EEOC, citing a hostile work environment and sexual, racial or religious discrimination.

Way said in addition to a hostile work environment, anti-Semitic and anti-homosexual comments were made while he was a firefighter for the township. Way produced photos which showed a cake with “Happy Birthday fag” written on it and another with graphic depictions of a gas chamber and swastikas.

The EEOC report stated it they had found “reasonable cause to believe that per se violations have been found under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” The report said the reasonable cause was due to the fire department’s failure to address Way’s notice of discriminatory practices and cultural bigotry in regard to Nazi propaganda, saluting and other anti-Semitic activities performed by management and members of the fire department.

The report was a prerequisite to Way filing a federal lawsuit against the department, which he says he is now in the process of doing. The EEOC report was released May 28.

Township trustee Chris Seddelmeyer and fire chief Todd Truesdale each referred questions to a lawyer representing the township. A call from someone stating he was the lawyer for the township said a comment would be made today.

Way was given a written reprimand in July 2012 for spreading negative views about the department’s operation through emails inside and outside the department. He was demoted in September for the emails, which were sent to two platoon chiefs of the department. He was fired for the improper use of sick time after fire department officials reported he was participating in recreational activities (at a bar drinking or having lunch) while on sick time between Sept. 12 to 14.

Way said it was just an excuse to fire him because he had complained about improper activities within the department. He said he produced a doctor’s slip for his sick day and simply sat at a restaurant and had lunch while waiting for a pharmacy nearby to fill his prescription.

Way claimed that pictures showing anti-Semitic remarks were also on PowerPoint presentations during banquets and were posted on the wall at the department. Way said he has received his notice of right to sue letter from the EEOC and has 60 days from receiving it to file. He said he still had about 42 days left. He said details of the lawsuit have not yet been spelled out.

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©2014 The Lima News (Lima, Ohio)

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