Wilmington – The City of Wilmington has agreed to resolve charges of race-based discrimination that were filed by five white City firefighters against former Fire Chief Anthony Goode, according to the Wilmington Mayor’s office.
The firefighters claimed they were harassed in connection with residency review investigations that were conducted by the Wilmington Fire Department in 2016, according to the Mayor’s office. The firefighters are Jonathan Hitch, Stephen Sherlock, Adam Risden, James Grieco and Thomas Cunningham.
The charges included serious allegations of substantial misconduct by the former Chief and were being investigated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), said the Mayors’ office.
After extensive discussions, the City, the firefighters and the EEOC reached a consensus this week to resolve the complaints against the former Chief, determining that such a settlement would be in the best interest of the City and the Fire Department.
The terms of the agreement are:
- Each of the five firefighters will be paid $15,000, for a total of $75,000
- The firefighters have dropped all claims against Goode and agreed that there will be no further claims or litigation in this matter
- The City will, in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Labor, provide anti-harassment training to Wilmington Fire Department personnel
- Residency review investigations related to Fire Department personnel will be conducted solely by the City’s Residency Review Board
- Former Fire Chief Goode will not be allowed onto any Fire Department property nor may he attend any Fire Department events if he is employed by the City in any capacity
The City’s Human Resources Director Charlotte B. Barnes said today that Goode is no longer employed by the City.