On Thursday, the city manager fired a Fort Lauderdale police chief over his minority-first practices when hiring and promoting officers.
Larry Scirotto was hired in August, and according to a report by CNN, and by November, the city had hired a law firm to investigate reports of discrimination. Scirotto told the outlet that the report led to his termination.
The investigation reportedly found that his hiring and promotion practices unfairly focused on minority candidates during his time as chief. Scirotto promoted 15 between August and November, with six candidates being ethnic or gender minorities. He maintains that they were all promoted based on merit, not because they belonged to a protected class.
The 12-page report claims that Scirotto created a “divisive” atmosphere within the department. He allegedly once pointed to a wall in a conference room that was covered with photos of the command staff and said, “that wall is too white.” “I’m gonna change that,” he vowed.
In another example, Scirotto overlooked a white officer who was a 20-year veteran in favor of hiring a minority candidate. When he narrowed down the choice to two men of color, he reportedly asked, “Which one is blacker?”
While speaking with WFOR, Scirotto called the report “vague on the facts” and that it was “built on hearsay.”
“If promoting diversity is the hill I’m going to die on, I will sleep well tonight,” Scirotto told CNN. “I won’t allow them to tarnish my reputation. I won’t allow them to tarnish the work that I’ve done in the 24 years I’ve been in this profession.”
He has retained legal counsel and plans to file a lawsuit against the city, citing wrongful termination.
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