Answers Sought from Feds in Jacksonville Probe

The day in February when two black firefighters reported finding nooses on their equipment has changed Jacksonville and its fire and rescue department. Nine months later, several groups continue to call for answers. The union representing the city's firefighters is asking for the results of a federal investigator into the incident. The group has put together a petition calling for the FBI to publicly announce what it has learned about the nooses during its investigation to determine exactly what happened at the fire station and who did it. Since the February incident, the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission investigated possible discrimination within the fire department and concluded that the fire chief should be removed along with some top managers. The fire chief was not replaced. However, the mayor has announced other plans for the city to fix the problems within in the fire department. The city, firefighters' union and the Black Firefighters Association have all been anxiously awaiting the results of the federal probe. "We don't want to suppress anything. We want this petition to show that the union that speaks for all firefighters of all races and genders want to get to the truth," said Fire Union President Roger Lewis. Last week, Mayor John Peyton announced how the city plans to close the racial divide within the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department, and also mentioned his interest in the federal investigation results. "Nobody wants to know more than I do, and I want to find out who did and make an example out of them," Peyton said. Several sources have told Channel 4 not to expect much from the U.S. Attorney's Office report, saying it should be available soon, but that most of the findings were inconclusive. Regardless of the outcome, members of the Black Firefighters Association said the investigation report needs to be released. The group said it supports the efforts of the union and will distribute the petition as well. "I think, for the first time in a long time, we are all on the same sheet of music. This is something that has been going on far too long and it needs to come to an end," said Wanda Butler of the Firefighters Association. "

Previous Stories:

• November 15, 2006: Mayor Responds To JFRD Task Force Findings