Former Fire Chief Files Racial Discrimination Claim Against District

Former Woodinville Fire & Rescue chief Ira David Daniels filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), claiming he believed he was going to be fired or pushed out of his position because he is African American. Daniels has been on administrative leave since .

In the statement, filed with the EEOC on Sept. 9 and received by the fire district on Sept. 19, Daniels states, “I am employed as fire chief. The last two chiefs were treated more favorable than I am being treated. The previous two chiefs were white. I am African American. I believe that the fire district is planning to end my contract, or to force me to quit, due to my race in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended.” 

The complaint can be read in its entirety in the attached PDF; Daniels’ home address and phone number have been blacked out to protect the privacy of his family. The district is investigating the complaint and the board will be discussing Daniels’ claim in executive session at its Oct. 3 meeting, according to David Weed, community relations officer.

“I cannot speak to any specifics,” said board president Tim Osgood in an email Saturday. “Rest assured, Woodinville Fire and Rescue does not tolerate any form of discrimination at any level within the organization, period.”

Daniels' predecessor, Dennis Johnson, was fired after only four years into his contract with the district. He filed a wrongful termination suit against the district that is still pending (see PDF). The reason for his firing has not been made public. The fire district’s attorney, , would not comment on the case when contacted late last week and would not say when he would comment.

At a special meeting on that gave the former chief a six-month severance package plus an education stipend not to exceed $9,500. Osgood said Daniels was working on his doctorate in human resources management and the board felt strongly it should cover the remainder of this academic year. The board has not reported whether Daniels accepted the proposed agreement. 

Osgood said at that meeting, “Both sides got to a point of, where is this going to go as far as the discord between labor, the effect it is having on morale, the effect it’s having on us getting positive work done, and again, it’s a mutual thing.” He added that the situation got to a point where “maybe a change in the position was necessary.” 

Daniels’ 19-month tenure in Woodinville was rocky almost from the start, culminating July 19 when International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2950 announced a  in the chief.