The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A federal commission concluded that the city Fire Department engaged in a pattern of discrimination, harassment and retaliation against black and women firefighters, it was reported Tuesday.

An investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission concluded there was sufficient evidence to show the department violated federal civil rights laws, Olophius E. Perry, director of the commission's Los Angeles office, wrote in a letter to the Fire Department on Friday.

The letter was obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

A call to Fire Department representatives seeking comment was not immediately returned.

The Fire Department specifically violated the rights of a black woman who was denied a transfer after she complained of harassment, the commission letter said.

"The commission further finds reasonable cause to believe that a pattern and practice of ... harassment and retaliation exists for a class of female and black firefighters based on gender and race," Perry wrote.

Santos Albarran, outreach manager for the local commission office, declined to confirm or deny details of the case. However, he said in general, a "conciliation phase" follows the issuing of such letters, during which an attempt is made to mediate between the person who filed the original discrimination complaint and the agency or business involved.

At that time, the commission could request payment to victims of harassment and policy and training changes to prevent discrimination. If the requests are refused, the case could be turned over to the Department of Justice for possible legal action, Albarran said.

Allegations of racial and sexual discrimination have plagued the 3,900-member department for over a decade and contributed to the forced early retirement of Fire Chief William Bamattre last year.

The City Council announced late last month that it would pay black firefighter Tennie Pierce $1.43 million to settle his discrimination lawsuit. The council on Tuesday formally voted to pay the settlement and an additional $60,000 in back pay.

Pierce sued after fellow firefighters laced his spaghetti with dog food in 2004.

The settlement agreement calls for Pierce, who had been on unpaid leave since 2005, to resign and to dismiss his claims against the city.

An original City Council settlement of $2.7 million was vetoed last year by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa after photos surfaced showing Pierce hazing other firefighters.

Harassment and discrimination cases have cost taxpayers nearly $15 million since 2005, including a record $6.2 million judgment in August to Brenda Lee, a black lesbian firefighter who said she was taunted and suffered retaliation for complaining.