Second DPW employee fired following racist incident

By: Ellie Romano

Email: ERomano@ABC6.com

Twitter: @ERomanoABC6

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – (UPDATE) – A second DPW employee has been fired following an alleged racial incident at a job site on Tuesday.

Emily Crowell, City Spokesperson of Providence said the termination took place after a Union pretrial hearing that took place on Wednesday.

Crowell said at this time the incident is still under investigation.

It is unclear if more employees are involved and facing some form of punishment at this time. 

—

(ORIGINAL) 

Two Providence Department of Public Works employees are facing consequences after an alleged racial incident on the job. 

According to a city spokesperson, the incident occurred Monday and involved several employees.

The NAACP reports a black employee found a noose inside one of the DPW trucks located in the DPW yard.

“I’m appalled,” said Jim Vincent, President of the NAACP Providence Chapter. “A noose is a symbol of racism, hatred, and bigotry”

 The employee reported the incident to human resources and an investigation was launched. Following the investigation, one DPW employee was fired and another was suspended pending a union pretrial hearing which is scheduled for Wednesday. 

“What happened is just absolutely despicable. It’s not going to be tolerated here in the city, there’s no place for it,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza. “Anyone responsible is going to be held accountable.”

Vincent was happy to see a quick response from the city.

“It’s not a harmless prank, it is serious,” said Vincent.

He is now calling for mandatory diversity training for all DPW employees.

“The noose is a symbol of racist white supremacists to intimidate and scare black families generally, and black men in particular,” said Vincent. “We cannot have those kinds of symbols in Rhode Island or anywhere else in this country.”

The Chairman of the Committee on Public Works, Michael Correia, said the incident does not represent the Department.

“I encourage the good and hard-working men and women of Public Works to cooperate fully with any investigation of this offensive incident,” said Correia. “There should be zero tolerance for racism.”

He said he will make the Committee on Public Works available in any way that is needed.

Police are not currently involved in the situation. 

©WLNE-TV/ABC6 2019