In an announcement that shook the foundation of the Houston Fire Training Academy, twelve cadets have been dismissed mere days ahead of what was to be a career-defining graduation; this following an internal probe into the sharing of racist memes, theft from both the city's integrity and its coffers. Houston Fire Department Chief Thomas Muñoz reported the terminations occurred on April 18, a decision cemented after investigations by HFD's Professional Standards Division and the City's Office of Inspector General revealed conduct breaching the department's expectations for professional behavior, ABC13 said.
These cadets were not just members of the academy, they were investments—investments to the tune of $100,000 each, detailed to KHOU 11 News by the sorrowful voice of Houston City Council Member Twila Carter who sits on the Public Safety Committee deploring both the conduct and the cost; a total of $1.2 million in losses at a time when the city is navigating a profound budget deficit. The cadets had been given another shot, another round of anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training when concerns first arose but even after repeated warnings, were caught up in the web of their own making, carried on their course of actions, and had to be let go, KHOU 11 News and ABC13 each reported.
Julian Ramirez, also a member of the Public Safety Committee, expressed his frustration during an interview with ABC13, calling the incident regrettable and very disappointing and suggesting that the city should consider legal methods to recoup the costs for training in instances of such misconduct.
Despite the disheartening conclusion for the dismissed twelve, Chief Munoz helmed a ceremony welcoming 50 new firefighters to the department, a ceremony that might have included the dismissed dozen, had their own choices not barred them from being part of a profession holding the public trust as dearly as it does the line against fire and smoke—Muñoz's statement crystallizing a zero-tolerance stance against racism within the ranks, according to ABC13.
