Brotherhood of Firefighters calls Deegan’s appointments to JFRD ‘superficial racial coding’

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters called Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan’s announcement of a diverse executive team for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department “superficial racial coding.”

“These positions, although titled to give the illusion of authority as presently presented are nothing more than superficial racial coding giving the appearance of progress within the Department when in actuality are nothing more than appeasement,” the Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters said on Facebook.

The Jacksonville Brotherhood of Firefighters are an organization composed of African American firefighters within the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.

Florida’s Voice reached out to the mayor’s office for a response to the brotherhood of firefighters’ comments, but did not receive an immediate response.

Deegan, along with Jacksonville City Council Vice President Randy White and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Chief Keith Powers, announced a diverse executive team, leadership development program and succession plan for the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Thursday.

“When I became your mayor, I promised to bring more diversity to our city workforce, build the bench for our next generation of leaders, and deliver the best service possible for our citizens,” Deegan said.

Deegan announced she is reappointing six experienced leaders to serve as mentors to the future leaders of the department as well as 10 new appointees to various new positions.

“JFRD has oncoming cultural issues that will only be addressed by policy changes and true cultural diversity policies,” the brotherhood of firefighters said. “This is the first time that an incoming administration did not appoint new leadership of their own supporters and kept a former Mayors administration in place.”

With Thursday’s announcement, the new leadership team for the fire department is 38% African American, 6% Asian, 6% Hispanic or Latino and 50% white, which Deegan’s office said “reflects the demographics of the city.”

The brotherhood of firefighters said they “understand and appreciate” the mayor’s efforts, but called it “troubling.”

“It is troubling that most of these newly created positions are lacking authority and decision making power to initiate changes in current cultural related policies,” they said.

Deegan announced the following re-appointments:

• Chief Keith Powers will continue serving as fire chief.
• Steve Riska was reappointed as division chief of operations.
• Jake Blanton was reappointed as division chief of rescue.
• Daniel Guthrie was reappointed as deputy division chief of rescue.
• Kevin Jones was reappointed as division chief of fire prevention.
• Andre Ayoub will continue as the division chief of emergency preparedness.

Deegan announced the following new appointments:

• Willie King as the new deputy fire chief.
• Chris Scott as the new deputy division chief of operations.
• Teresa Kinstle as the new division chief of training.
• Austin Gambill as the new deputy division chief of training.
• Renaldo Horn as the new chief of recruiting.
• Allen Mason as the new deputy division chief of fire prevention.
• Percy Golden Jr. as the new deputy division chief of emergency preparedness.
• Mike Lesniak as the new division chief of administrative services.
• Terrance Holmes as the new deputy division chief of administrative services.
• Berlinda Tookes as the new assistant chief of EEO/Ethics.

“We have put in place a succession plan to create a pipeline that brings diverse talent to the top of JFRD,” Deegan said. “These changes will ensure we continue to have the best fire department in the country for years to come.”

The brotherhood questioned where the change is going to happen that Deegan promised during her campaign if the former team remains in place with they’re “unfair cultural policies remaining.”

“If this isn’t a continuation of the good old boy network that she campaigned against then what message does this send to the citizens?” the brotherhood said.