NEWS9 told you a few months back about a Steubenville firefighter who was accused of making racial slurs to a co-worker, and now that investigation is coming to an end.
NEWS9 has learned the firefighter accused no longer works for the department.
Steubenville Firefighter Paul Bowman said for the past six months a fellow firefighter has been making racial slurs about his two bi-racial children.
The city launched an investigation, and NEWS9 found out that this month, after more than 37 years on the job, the man accused has retired.
City Manager Bruce Williams declined an on-camera interview, but he did release this statement:
"The city prosecutor investigated the allegations. I can tell you the allegations against the accused are sustained. The individual accused has retired."
Bowman asked the NAACP for help back in November, and they've been working with him for the past few months.
"It's 2007 now, and these things aren't going to be tolerated, said Royal Mayo, president of the NAACP. And our governments need to be the first people to step up and say 'Hey, we're not going to have this.'"
Mayo handed over documents to NEWS9 Wednesday night; one of them is a letter from the prosecutor who investigated the case, Costa Mastros, to the city manager.
In the findings of fact, the letter reads:
Mr. ________ (the firefighter accused) stated he has used the term "n*****" while at work." "What has not been denied and what does not seem to be refuted is the fact that Mr. _______ (the firefighter accused) uses the word "n*****" with some regularity at the workplace."
The other document given to NEWS9 by the NAACP is a letter from city manager Bruce Williams to the firefighter accused. It reads:
"I gladly accept your retirement letter this morning because in light of your offensive actions and insensitive manner, your departure via retirement is the quickest way to ensure your removal from any further interaction with other firemen."
Bowman told NEWS9 Wednesday night he is glad its over, and he is happy with the outcome of it all.
NEWS9 tried to contact the firefighter accused, but he was unavailable for comment.
Natalie Pasquarella, NEWS9
