New York Fire Department Commissioner Nicholas Scopetta today announced a new regulation that will ban discriminatory or obscene material from all FDNY facilities. According to a statement released by the fire department, any and all sexually explicit, racial or religiously derogatory material will be banned from lockers, bulletin boards, crew quarters and television. Earlier in January, New York fire chiefs made an effort to remove unwanted pictures and posters from the outsides of lockers.
Earlier in January, New York fire chiefs made an effort to remove unwanted pictures and posters from the outsides of lockers. Unions and firefighters responded by placing the United States flag on lockers in protest. Attorneys representing the firefighters said the action by the chiefs was demeaning and insulting. Later, Commissioner Scopetta said only obscene material was meant to be targeted – leaving out the mass cards, yellow ribbons and 9/11 memorabilia often found on the outsides of firefighter lockers.
Now, to ensure that departments are following the new regulation, facilities will be under inspection by chiefs and company officers.
| Full Regulation 19.2 Use of Quarters Supervisors are responsible for maintaining a professional work environment for subordinates. This includes conducting periodic inspections of all Department facilities to ensure that any material that may be discriminatory or obscene is not displayed or viewed in any FDNY facility. Among the types of materials that are prohibited by the Department are displays of sexual, ethnic, religious, racial or other items that areprohibited by the Department’s EEO policy and regulations. When a supervisor or officer is unsure as to whether any material is discriminatory or obscene, or otherwise violative of the Department’s policy and regulations, officers or supervisors shall promptly consult with the Department’s EEO office. The Department strictly and specifically prohibits, in any of its facilities, the viewing or display of any sexually explicit materials, including - but not limited to - the following: any sexually explicit photographs, pictures, print articles, posters, or magazines; television or audio programs, videotapes, DVD’s or adult/movie programs, either through the use of a video cassette recorder, DVD player, audio device, computer or any other device or medium, or received through an adult channel from a cable television company. Premium channels, which provide sexually explicit material, will not be permitted to be received on any cable box at a Department facility. Commanding officers/unit heads shall contact cable television companies and have them “block out” any stations received on the basic package which show sexually explicit programming. All areas of quarters are subject to these regulations, including personal lockers. Company Commanders shall maintain a current list of locker assignments and ensure that lockers assigned to members shall have their name and assigned locker number affixed to the front. Bulletin boards in facilities shall be used only for official Department business or important information relating to approved Departmental organizations. Uniformed commanders and civilian managers shall ensure that copies of the Equal Employment Policy Statement and Sexual Harassment Policy Statement are posted permanently on the bulletin board of the company quarters/administrative offices. Commanders and managers are responsible to assure that these signs are neither defaced nor removed. Battalion Chiefs, when conducting an inspection of company quarters, shall ensure that the Policy Statements are posted. Chief and company officers will be held strictly responsible for ensuring full compliance with this section. |