*SaveAFirefighterSaveAFamily

#SAVEAFIREFIGHTERSAVEAFAMILY

My name is Cindy Naraine, and I have started this Spotfund to share my story with everyone who is willing to listen and help me, or anyone who can relate to what I have experienced. I have been a public-sector employee of municipal government in the State of Florida for approximately 20 years, while dedicating that time to helping others in the areas of law enforcement, fire-rescue, human resources and other various areas of government.

Throughout my employment with the City of Hollywood Florida, I’ve considered myself to be the epitome of professionalism. I have always maintained exemplary employee performance evaluations.  I've never received any counseling, verbal or written warnings, reprimands, or disciplinary actions by any member within my direct chain of Command. I’ve never needed Fire Union intervention because of any issues. And I was well-liked by my colleagues.

I had been employed by the City of Hollywood as a full-time permanent employee since 2015. In January 2019, and after completing the required education and training, I was promoted to the position of Firefighter for the city's Fire-Rescue Department. In April 2019, I was then assigned to work in the Fire Prevention Bureau as a Fire Prevention Officer I, a job position which I did not apply for.  On 1/9/2020, I received notification from my Commanding Officer and Fire Marshal that I had successfully completed all of the required testing and training required for my 1-year promotional probationary period and that I should be moving forward.

On January 16, 2020, during an unscheduled meeting, I was blind-sided when I was forced to resign under duress, coercion, and threat by two Deputy Fire Chiefs who stated that if I did not resign on the spot by signing a pre-printed resignation letter which they prepared, I would never be employable in the State of Florida as a Firefighter or Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider ever again. Despite my multiple pleas, I was never provided with a reason for my termination from the Deputy Fire Chief other than being told, "As a probationary employee, we don't need a reason", The Fire Chief felt that "You were not a good fit for the agency" and that "it did not serve in the city's best interest to continue your employment". I was not allowed to contact my union representatives or spouse during this meeting. The city disregarded my contractual rights to due process despite a valid and legally binding union contract between the IAFF local union and the city in addition to established city ordinances. My professional career was being executed right before my eyes and there wasn’t anything I could do about it.

Multiple requests were made to the City from myself and my counsel as well as Official Public Records requests asking that they provide any and all legitimate and non-discriminatory reasons for my termination. I was never provided with any responses from the city.  I filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (E.E.O.C) and Florida Commission on Human Relations (F.C.H.R.) in April 2020. It was not until October 16, 2020 (ten months later)  and after receiving a copy of a report provided to me from EEOC, that I learned for the very first time that the City claimed that I was terminated for five (5) "alleged charges of policy violations". 

The City blatantly lied in the report which they provided to the EEOC in hopes to have the complaints dismissed by that authority, and I was able to prove it. At no time did I or members of my IAFF union leadership have any knowledge of these "alleged" violations nor did any records prior to my termination exist indicating there were any such "issues" warranting discipline of any kind or that would warrant an extreme action such as the termination of employment of a permanent employee. It was clearly evident that the fabricated documents used by the City in support of their allegations to the EEOC  were created several weeks even months after I had already been terminated, these documents were all back-dated and then knowingly signed by members of the City Manager's Executive Staff and Fire Department Officials. It became quickly apparent that the City created these illegitimate documents after-the-fact and after my requests for information were being made to cover up the real reason why I was terminated from my employment...DISCRIMINATION.

HERE ARE SOME FACTS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER...

• In 2020, the City of Hollywood Fire-Rescue Department employed approximately 274 sworn Firefighters.
• 30 out of 274 sworn Firefighters were FEMALE.
• Of the 30 FEMALES, ONLY 2 of the 274 sworn Firefighters WERE BLACK FEMALES.
• Since 2015 and to date, the City of Hollywood FL has received approximately $11.3M of FEMA Federally-Funded grant monies under the SAFER grant program specifically created for the hiring and retention of ethnically DIVERSE Firefighters to serve the city Hollywood citizens.
• Over 84+ Firefighters were hired by this city over a 5-year period between 2015-2020 while receiving those federal funds under the SAFER grant program
• Of those 84+ Firefighters hired betweenn 2015-2020, NONE were members of a protected class or minority group outside of the Hispanic race
• ONLY 6 OUT OF THE 84+ FIREFIGHTERS HIRED DURING THAT TIME PERIOD WERE FEMALE. Of those 6 females, 3 were terminated, 2 of those were for discriminatory reasons.
• I was the FIRST BLACK female Firefighter hired in 10years (2019) by the City of Hollywood SINCE 2009.
• I was the only black female hired in 2019 and wrongfully terminated during that 5year period
• The City of Hollywood Florida's population is comprised of an approximate 19% black population. The make-up of the Fire Departments' sworn personnel is not reflective of this fact.
• The City of Hollywood Florida's population is comprised of an approximate 50% Male, 50% female population. The make-up of the Fire Departments' sworn personnel is not reflective of this fact.
• Between 2015-2020 there were NO BLACK FEMALE Firefighter-Paramedics assigned to work on any of the City of Hollywood's Fire-Rescue Trucks throughout the entire city rendering care to any of the 19% black Hollywood citizen population
• ONLY ONE (1) Black female Firefighter-Paramedic was assigned to work on a Fire Engine truck serving the city during this 5yr period.
• The City of Hollywood's HR department has been intentionally employing unlawful discriminatory "Steering Employment Processes" in its recruitment for Fire-Department personnel. For example, during a 2020 recruitment for the position of Fire Prevention Officer I for City's Fire-Rescue Department, approximately 113 job applications were received from qualified Firefighters for the open job position. Of those 113 job applications received, APPROXIMATELY 108 POTENTIAL FIREFIGHTER JOB APPLICANTS WERE DISQUALIFIED by the City's HR department from participating in the recruitment and job interview process WHICH INCLUDED QUALIFIED BLACK JOB APPLICANTS AND FEMALE JOB APPLICANTS.
• The City of Hollywood Human Resources Department conducted 2 rounds of interviews during 2020 for a total of 5 potential job applicants:
  • 1st round consisted of only two (2) applicants: all white male job applicants using an all white, 3- male interview panel.
  • 2nd round consisted of only three (3) applicants: one white female, one Hispanic female, and one white male using 3- male interview panel consisting of two white males, one Hispanic male.
• Only the white male applicants "obtained the highest scores" on each of the two Civil Service Job Eligibility Registers., One white male was hired but was less qualified than those potential job applicants who were deemed "disqualified" and not provided an opportunity to interview for the position nor did the hired applicant possess the required county license to operate at the time of hire in comparison to those "disqualified" applicants who did possess the same licenses and which included black and female persons.

While the use of our judicial system is an extremely slow and painstaking process, it is estimated that it  may take at least another 12-16months before I can find a resolution to my case. Surprisingly, I am not the only female firefighter or a person of color to find myself in this situation; it seems this is quite a very common practice in the Fire Service industry faced by females and persons of color which is the main reason why I am fighting to right this wrong. No firefighter or emergency first responder deserves to be treated in any such manner; it is immoral and unethical. Nobody should be deprived of their livelihood because of their race or gender-we are all trained and licensed professionals ready to render emergency care and treatment to persons in need and as such should be treated fairly and equally without prejudice by our employer.

Being a terminated emergency first responder has been the worst experience of my life. It is worse than being treated like a criminal felon. While a felon has a Constitutional right to being treated by citizens as “innocent until proven guilty”, in contrast, and fellow emergency responders who have undergone similar situations can agree,  I have been personally subjected to being treated as though I am guilty until I can prove my innocence, and my sentence is indefinite unemployment until and unless I can have an opportunity to present my case before a judge and jury trial. I currently possess multiple post-secondary graduate degrees, and as many as five (5) state/nationally certified Emergency First Responder licenses to practice in the field of Emergency Services. I am trained to protect and save the lives of others, but right now I am trying to save my own. The loss of my professional career has had a profound and devastating effect on my life. I have suffered from weight loss, anxiety, depression, and severe insomnia due to the emotional and financial stress this situation has caused myself and family.

In the last 3 years I have had no source of income and I have been unable to receive any financial government-assisted unemployment benefits. I have not been successfully able to secure any employment despite applying for countless jobs because my former employer has been intentionally giving potential employers a negative employment verification for me in retaliation and due to the fact that I have filed a lawsuit against them.

Three weeks ago, my spouse, who was also an employee of the same City for the past five+ years and who, as well was being subjected to retaliation in direct connection with my complaint and subsequent discrimination lawsuit was terminated by City. Like myself, he too was terminated on the basis of similar false "alleged violations" by the city to give the perception that his termination "was justified" when in fact the termination was retaliatory in nature regardless of the federal and state laws put in place to protect hard-working employees like ourselves from this very same treatment.  The mere fact that any employer would intentionally terminate two employees from the same household, intentionally leaving us both without any ability to obtain future employment by informing potential employers we are "not rehireable", no access to health insurance for our four (4) children- two of these who undergo required ongoing medical treatments, and without any income to sustain life expenses or live is for no other word than absolutely dirty and immoral on the part of this city's' Executive Management Staff and the City Commission of six elected officials!!!!

This is why I am reaching out to you now…please help me save my professional career. My future is at stake; my ability to provide for my family is at stake. This is not just a fight for me; it’s a fight for women; it’s a fight for people of color and other protected minorities;  it’s a fight for basic human decency. Please help me hold the City of Hollywood accountable for their actions.

I can't fight this fight alone and I am desperately asking for your help. I am asking as a last resort. Those who know me, know that I am the first person to step up and help those in need and never ask for help for myself however, I've found myself to be the one in need right now. My family and I need your support and we would greatly appreciate any financial assistance you can offer. We have been unable to keep up with expenses for basic life necessities such as mortgage, food, medical expenses, as well as legal expenses. We have tried to hang on for the last three years but do not want to wind up homeless and helpless if this situation continues.  

We are asking that you please DONATE to our spotfund if you can and pass this along to friends and family to help get the word out and help us get some much needed assistance. God bless!!

Sincerely,

Cindy Naraine, State of Florida Firefighter

Email: naraine74@gmail.com