Demoted Firefighter Gets Job Back, Files EEOC Complaint

East Lake Fire Commissioners voted to restore firefighter Bill Figueredo to his position as lieutenant during a special meeting Tuesday evening. The veteran firefighter will also receive back pay for the time he was demoted to driver-engineer.

"I'm very grateful that I've been restored to my original position. I'm very grateful that at least part of the truth has come out and I thank the commissioners for at least acknowledging that to this extent," Figuerdo said after the special meeting.

Figuerdo was accused of performing a Nazi salute to East Lake Fire Commission Chairman Mark Weinkrantz, who had referred to the alleged Dec. 19, 2012 incident as "harassment" when he emailed Fire Chief Tom Jamison about it.

Jamison ordered an investigation that included a survey of 32 firefighters, none of whom witnessed the alleged Nazi salute, according to documents obtained by Patch. The investigation did not find Figueredo guilty of harassment or discrimination, but he was demoted for other reasons.

Three weeks ago, the same fire commissioners appeared ready to reinstate Figueredo to lieutenant and give him back pay, but voted to allow the matter to go to arbitration. The decision came after Figueredo spoke before commissioners and publicly criticized Jamison.

"The reason that I changed my vote, I got the sense that this thing isn't going to be over with," said Commissioner Paul Ferreri on May 6.

However, during Tuesday evening's board meeting, Ferrari said he was wrong.

"Mr. Figueredo offered some open communication right before we took the vote. I was incorrect in having that communication influence my decision on a preceding matter. That's not the way to encourage open communication," he said.

"We should have anyone who wants to say anything about anything, be able to say it without fear of recrimination. Mr. Figueredo's comments caused an action of mine which wasn't appropriate for the time."

Commissioners then voted 4-0 to restore Figueredo to lieutenant with back pay. Chairman Weinkrantz recused himself from the vote. 

"The board has made a determination it is in the best interest of the community not to pursue this discipline issue. The distraction is over, now we can get back to paying attention to the important things that we're supposed to here for the community," said Weinkrantz after the meeting.

While commissioners appear ready to move on, Figueredo's attorney says he's filed a complaint with the Pinellas County Office of Human Rights.

"The allegations that have arisen have been referred to them with respect to the discrimination that we believe my client has suffered at the hands of this department," said Figuerdo's attorney Michael Stephens.

Stephens says the Pinellas County Office of Human Rights has not yet decided if they'll launch an investigation.

Figueredo appeared to be glad to have his old job back. He says he is looking forward to returning to work on Thursday.

"This is my niche and I'm good at what I do and this is where I belong and the guys appreciate that type of experience and type of leadership and I feel that I'll be able to get right back into the proverbial saddle and just move forward," he said.

Related-

• Racism Allegations: Demoted Firefighter's Case Appears Headed to Arbitration
• East Lake Fire Rescue Racism Allegations on Special Meeting Agenda
• Racism Allegations: East Lake Fire Chief Wants Independent Investigation 

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