Posted on 10/07/2017 2:14:34 PM PDT by TigerClaws
DETROIT (WJBK) - Fired before he officially started.
Last Monday, 41-year-old Robert Pattison went to introduce himself to his fellow firefighters at Engine 55 at Joy and Southfield in Detroit.
Second Battallion Chief Shawn McCarty calls it a tradition for firefighters.
by Taboola Sponsored Links Ad Content U.S. Trust: The Growth of Wind Power & Its Economic Affects From U.S. Trust The States Most Affected by Rising Sea Levels Zillow "It's not mandatory, it's voluntary," he said. "You come in bearing gifts. The usual gift is doughnuts but you are allowed to bring whatever you want to bring in."
photo And Pattison, a probationary firefighter, decided to bring a watermelon wrapped in a pink ribbon.
We're told some African-American firefighters were instantly offended since 90 percent of the people who work at Engine 55 are black.
"When you get your first detail at a firehouse you pretty much know what you are getting yourself into," said Patrick Trout. "So you would have to say it was probably a bad call."
FOX 2: "Is it racially insensitive to bring a watermelon into a fire house?"
"To some people," McCarty said.
FOX 2 spoke to Pattison by phone who claims it was not a joke - and he did not mean to offend his fellow firefighters. But he clearly did.
Fire Commissioner Eric Jones says the Fenton native was officially discharged.
In a statement Jones says: "There is zero tolerance for discriminatory behavior inside the Detroit Fire Department. On Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Engine 55, a trial firefighter (probationary employee) engaged in unsatisfactory work behavior which was deemed offensive and racially insensitive to members of the Detroit Fire Department.
"After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the best course of action was to terminate the employment of this probationary employee."
In a world where racial tensions run high, some tell me the trial firefighter should have known better. Trout doesn't know if he meant anything by it - but feels it was a bad choice.
"For sure by far it was,"
The question is did DFD take it too far?
FOX 2: "Should he have lost his job over a watermelon?"
"I don't think so," McCarty said. "Between what he did and what was there are a few things that could have been done."
.
I like fried chicken, potato salad, corn bread and WATERMELON, but I’m not black (I’ve never had collard greens that I can recall).
Am I breaking some rule?
.
DID THE FIREFIGHTERS EAT THE WATERMELON
after they fired the offending whitey ???
I bet the brothers ate the F’ outta that watermelon. How come we don’t hear about THAT?
Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes.
and why do gays own the word "gay"...
I hope this guy sues to high heaven and wins...
Exactly how Gary Larson would write it in a Far Side!
Personally, I don’t consider Cheeto’s orange. More like a Nuclear Neon Salmon.
They were offended that a white guy was offered a job.
I am going to guess this is how the depart stays 90% black. They do this to the white guys.
...then
It was KFC and All Hell broke Loose!
So Firefighters prefer junk food donuts.
Remember that when then come running.
Back when I was young being liberal was suppose meant being open to other people and cultures, both personally and in business.
This crap will just shut those doors to minorities simply because one doesn’t know what will “trigger” the person and everyone gets tired of walking on eggshells around certain people.
This will backfire.... badly.
Yes, we are letting one minority influence far too many issues from watermelons as gift to being present in far too much advertizing.
Blacks or Negros comprise 13% (according to one source, 14% in another) of the US pop. They are influencing far too much from a tiny base.
I am very tired of it and of those who belong to the BlM. All of us with darker skins do not look alike and do not act alike and do not want this BS to continue.
Far better to look at the person and what they do, how they present themselves and how personally honorable they are than to make all blacks the pinnacle of everything.
The way to deal with this is do your Jo and go home.
Sue their asses. Ridicules.
the story is affirmative action hiring practices by the Detroit Fire Department.
He would have been better off just bringing nothing. That way he cant be accused of anything. The longer I think about it I feel its better to just keep the cash in my pocket and give nothing. These days, I feel the world can get along without me. Ill be lucky if it just leaves me alone.
ANTI-WHITE SUPREMACISTS
Did they wear the traditional Democrat attire, white sheets?
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