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Firefighter Suspended 5 Days for Noose Incident

Firefighter Suspended 5 Days for Noose Incident

Chicago Tribune

June 20, 2008

MICHIGAN CITY, INDIANA – City officials on Friday suspended a Fire Department battalion chief for five days without pay after he was accused of tying a noose in a fire hose and holding it over a black firefighter’s head during a training exercise.

Michael Osborne, who is white, was suspended for conduct unbecoming a Fire Department employee and for violating the city’s code of conduct requiring employees to avoid inappropriate and disrespectful behavior, Fire Chief Dave Lamb said in a statement.

A telephone message seeking comment was left by The Associated Press at the home phone number of the only Michael Osborne listed in the area.

Osborne can appeal his suspension to the city’s Fire Merit Commission, but has not indicated his intentions, Mayor Chuck Oberlie said.

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An investigation led by Lamb indicated Osborne was attempting to make others in the class laugh. Oberlie said there was no sign of any bad feelings between Osborne and the other firefighter, whose name was not disclosed, before the June 10 incident during a knot tying exercise.

“There’s just no room for that in today’s society,” he said. “We’ve worked awfully hard in this community to provide diversity training so everyone would stop and think before they do things. So this is a total disappointment.”

Mike Rivera, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in LaPorte County, said he was satisfied with the punishment, especially since the victim was consulted on the suspension.

“Hopefully it’s enough to get him to see the severity of his act,” Rivera said.

More diversity training for firefighters in the city about west of South Bend will be held because of the noose incident, Lamb said.

© 2008 Yellowbrix, Inc.


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  • I-64_accident_scene_max50

    smoknfyr

    about 1 month ago

    4 comments

    To be a BC, and to even have the thought cross his mind to do that... Perpexes me to no end, and this man was charged with the health and safety of his personnel?
  • Dsc00459_max50

    JeremyDoub

    about 1 month ago

    2 comments

    I am not in the Fire Service or anything yet,but I agree with all of these comments.
  • L_3d51f9cd14403ae82017663534aa2da9_max50

    james1423

    about 1 month ago

    12 comments

    I thank this Battalion Chief Should be demoted down to firefighter or fired
  • Photo_user_blank_big

    lchast01

    about 1 month ago

    134 comments

    Why is this meat head even a chief?
  • Scan0001_max50

    mechanic_243

    2 months ago

    16 comments

    I agree with this action, in our department this knot is the dead amns knot, we will kick a person off the department for making this knot. The explorer group we have we are teaching knots and if anyone of the youth make this knot it's an auto suspesion for them for six months.
  • Hpim0549_max50

    captain50

    2 months ago

    84 comments

    It doesn't seem that there was any malicious intent, but just the lack of sensitivity is enough to warrant the suspension, if only to keep similar things from happening again.
  • Fire_medic_max50

    Maverick928

    2 months ago

    36 comments

    Not smart! We just fired a Captain and a firemedic for the same thing. Zero tolerance
  • Photo_user_blank_big

    PIC2my_friend

    2 months ago

    84 comments

    He should have known better than to pull a stupid stunt like this.
  • A_day_at_the_fire_department_010_max50

    arkansasfirefighter

    2 months ago

    8 comments

    I dont think it was intended on being a racist gesture but it was totally uncalled for. people like him is what gives the "white" people a bad name. I have zero tolerence for dumbasses like him!
  • Irish_desktop_max50

    AngelJo008

    2 months ago

    154 comments

    All I can say is "idiot".

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