10 Weeks Waiting For A Response—

Botsford Firefighter Urges Resolution Of Complaint Alleging Racist Remarks

By Andrew Gorosko

A Botsford volunteer firefighter, who alleges that “racist remarks” were made against him by a Botsford fire officer in his absence, is urging that the town resolve his complaint about the incident.

In an August 15 letter to First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, Kambiz Moayedi notes that it has been two and one-half months since he complained to the United Fire Company of Botsford and has been one month since he complained to the first selectman about the matter, but has received no response on the progress of a town investigation into his allegations.

Mr Moayedi, 40, who is of Iranian descent, and who has taken a leave of absence as a firefighter from the Botsford organization, alleges that, in his absence, on at least one occasion, an officer of the fire company referred to him as a “terrorist” in the presence of that officer’s superior, who allegedly did not nothing to stop such remarks from being made by that officer. Mr Moayedi further alleges that the officer also had referred to him as a “sand nigger” in his absence. Mr Moayedi joined the Botsford fire company in October 2004.

After a discussion with Mr Moayedi, Mr Rosenthal asked Kevin Cragin, who is the chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners, to investigate Mr Moayedi’s allegations.

In his August 15 letter to Mr Rosenthal, Mr Moayedi writes that the Botsford fire company removed from service two of its volunteers who were witnesses to racist remarks being made against him and who openly disapproved of the situation. “Both men were volunteers in good standing who had been with the company for several years. They were removed with no warning, explanation or justification,” according to Mr Moayedi.

Mr Moayedi added that he has filed a formal complaint with the state’s Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

On August 17, Mr Rosenthal said that he had not yet received the August 15 correspondence from Mr Moayedi.

Mr Rosenthal said he expects to receive a report on the complaint from Mr Cragin.

Asked about the progress of the investigation, Mr Rosenthal said, “Kevin can speak for himself. I can’t speak for him.”

But Mr Cragin is not speaking. The Board of Fire Commissioners chairman has declined to discuss the matter in the past, and this week did not return several telephone messages seeking an update on the status of his investigation.

Following Mr Moayedi’s initial complaint, Mr Rosenthal had asked the town attorney to research the lines of authority that exist between the town and the five local volunteer fire companies, of which Botsford is one company.

“The lines of authority are very unclear. We [town] don’t have direct authority over the volunteer fire companies… The direct lines of authority are somewhat vague.” Mr Rosenthal said.

In an August 14 letter to Mr Rosenthal, former Botsford firefighter Brian McNeill wrote that he was surprised to learn that on August 1, while he was absent from a monthly Botsford fire company meeting, he was removed from service as a fire company member.

“I was not given a chance to hear the reason why I was being removed and/or defend myself against any allegations,” Mr McNeill wrote to the first selectman. Mr McNeill added that he wrote to the first selectmen about the matter after failing to receive a response from the fire company to his questions about his removal from duty as a firefighter.

Mr McNeill wrote that he had witnessed racist remarks being made against Mr Moayedi and expects that he was dismissed from the fire company because he opposed the racist remarks being made.

“My intention has always been to wear my uniform proudly, representing Newtown with dignity and honor. Unfortunately, in the past few months, the officers have only brought shame and disgrace to the United Fire Company [of Botsford],” Mr McNeill wrote to the first selectman.