Lewes, DE, Fire Dept. Faces Backlash Allowing Chief to Return after Racist Slur

The Lewes community is irate that its fire department leaders will allow the fire chief to return as a member once his suspension for using a racial slur is over.

In July, former Fire Chief Bill Buckaloo was suspended for 60 days after admitting to loudly using the 'N' word in public, and then trying to apologize to patrons. 

Fire Department President Wally Evans opted not to pursue further disciplinary action, according to firefighters who spoke to CoastTV after the monthly meeting Tuesday.

Not all members welcomed the media outside the fire station. One firefighter had to be restrained after aggressively approaching a reporter and using profanity.

This isn't the first time the five-term chief has been suspended. In 2018, Buckaloo was arrested by Lewes police for disorderly conduct after urinating off a dock. He was sidelined in 2020 for posting a slur aimed at a drag performer after a show in Rehoboth Beach. That post was later deleted, and Buckaloo issued a public apology.

NCAA President Fleur McKendell said his organization will not stand by while public institutions in Delaware excuse racism.

"The Lewes Fire Department allowing Buckaloo to return after publicly using the N-word is not just disappointing, it is dangerous. It sends a message that racist language and behavior will be tolerated, even excused, among those in positions of public trust. Would expulsion have been the right move? Absolutely. If someone shows through their words and actions that they cannot be trusted to lead with respect, integrity and fairness, then they should not be given the privilege to serve," he said.

McKendall said he will be meeting with fire department leaders and Mayor Amy Morasco to discuss the incident. 

Morasco explained: "We should hold ourselves accountable and each other, and that's my full hope, that the fire department will address this fully and that they will, through this process, learn and come out of it better than where they started."