Created: 6/15/2009 5:21:44 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued its findings after an 11-month investigation, concluding the practices of the Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
"I haven't seen language that strong in a finding or in a cause letter from the commission, so I was certainly encouraged and we were all encouraged by the letter and the language," said Attorney Kirsten Doolittle from her Five Points office.
Doolittle is an employment lawyer who represents the NAACP and the Brotherhood of Black Firefighters Union.
Her clients are pleased with the report from the EEOC.
The "Letter of Determination" concludes JFRD's employment practices since 2003 are "discriminatory toward African Americans with regard to hiring, promotion, assignment, transfer, discipline, discharge and create a racially hostile work environment."
Jacksonville NAACP head Isaiah Rumlin told First Coast News the matter could have been avoided.
"I think if the City would have been more fair with us three or four years ago, perhaps we would not be at this point."
The head of the Jacksonville Firefighter's Union did not return our calls for comment on the report. But the City of Jacksonville, which oversees JFRD --denied its accuracy.
"The majority of the findings aren't based on any fact that we can ascertain," said Legal Counsel Derell Chatmon.
The City has until Friday to respond to Federal Investigators on the findings. Those who brought the case say they do believe the culture at JFRD can be improved.
"Working with the department. Working with the mayor's office through our legal counsel to make sure that there's long term reforms over at the (JFRD) department," said Rumlin.
