City Suspends Assistant Chief For Outrageous Remarks

Posted by: Curt Varone October 13, 2019 0

An assistant chief with the Mount Vernon (NY) Fire Department has been suspended after a profanity-laden audio recording of him speaking with a fire lieutenant surfaced. Al-Farid Salahuddin was suspended without pay, and Mayor Andre Wallace was quoted by News 12 as saying he was “disgusted” after listening to it.

The 32 minute recording included inflammatory language with racist overtones, accusing City Council members, current and former mayors, and firefighters of an assortment of misdeeds. It was reportedly recorded in a fire station.

Chief Salahuddin was named in a race discrimination suit earlier this year by another black firefighter who claims he and a captain  repeatedly called him “faggot”, “piece of shit”, “white boy lover”, “caterer to the white boys” and “fake brother.” More on the story here.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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