Dear Community,
I regret to inform you about some horrible news regarding an incident at one of the City’s fire stations.
A piece of rope tied into what appears to be a crude noose was discovered in the gear locker of a Black firefighter at a Bloomington fire station on June 15. The incident was reported to Fire Department leadership on June 23. The City of Bloomington has asked the FBI to investigate the matter.
I am disgusted, angry, and embarrassed by this cowardly act. To be clear, this incident is very serious and is being dealt with aggressively. The City of Bloomington, including the Fire Department, is committed to being a safe and respectful place to work for all employees. We will not tolerate or, in any way, condone such behavior. The City has a strict workplace policy that forbids all types of discriminatory and disrespectful behavior. Continue reading.