When Sacramento city firefighter Waris Gildersleeve heard that his colleague Desmond Lewis was resigning, he knew it would have an impact. That’s because Gildersleeve and Lewis were part of the 2.4% of the department that is African American, a perplexing distinction within a force that’s more than 580 firefighters strong. When representation is that off-kilter in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, even a single resignation has ripple effects.
Now, Gildersleeve has also resigned from being a firefighter, though he’s still employed as a fire inspector. A 15-year veteran of the department, Gildersleeve says the reason he no longer wanted to be working in station houses involves the same worries Lewis had when he put in his papers: Some Captain-level supervisors don’t address bullying, harassment, racist remarks or extreme unprofessionalism. And in certain cases, according to Gildersleeve, Lewis and others, they’re personally involved in the behavior.
Lack of diversity â claims of department racism, sexual assault; Sacramento fire chief responds Share Updated: 8:25 AM PST Mar 13, 2021 Share Updated: 8:25 AM PST Mar 13, 2021
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Show Transcript REPORTER: IT WAS A LONELY EXPERIENCE, NOT GOING TO LIE. REPORTER: THIS FIREFIGHTER AND PARAMEDIC, FOR 17 YEARS, RETIRING FROM STRESS INTO THOUSAND 17. IN 2017. SHE SAYS DISCRIMINATION WAS PART OF THE CULTURE. SHE SAYS SHE EXPERIENCED IT FIRSTHAND. AS AN INTERN, SHE WAS TIED TO A LIFT BASKET. I COULDNâT MOVE, I COULDNâT GET OUT ONCE I WAS TIED IN. I WILL SECURED TO THE TIP OF THE LADDER TRUCK AND RACED TO THE TOP OF THE FIRE STATION. IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER. IT WAS A HOT DAY. THEY UNLATCHED ME AND LEFT ME UP THERE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. REPORTER SHE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO HER SUPERIORS. BUT THE RETIRED FIREFIGHTER AND CURRENT FSD EMPLOYEE TOLD KCRA 3 INVESTIGATES THE PROCESS IS INTIMIDATING. I MET WITH THE SACRAME