Firefighters Allege
Racism, Corruption

WASHINGTON, D.C. - District of Columbia fire investigators Greg Bowyer and Gerald Pennington filed a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit Thursday against the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical services and Fire Chief Dennis Rubin.

Bowyer and Pennington are both highly-decorated firefighters and the most experienced fire investigators in D.C. Fire and EMS. The two allege they endured harassment and retaliation after they reported the department's mishandling of fire investigations, including the arson investigation at Capitol Hill's historic Eastern Market.

The firefighters say it exposes an underlying problem of racism in the department. Bower sent a message to his chief saying, "Mr. Chief Rubin and administration with all due respect, the Jim crow era is history."

The two spoke with attorneys and were flanked by fellow firefighters as they unleashed a bombshell of allegations.

Today they took aim at Fire Chief Dennis Rubin and his top staff.

"This is about the right and the wrong, the injustices, the foul practices, the dirty tactics that they use to attack members," said Pennington.

"Rather than listen to brave firefighters, the department leadership Rubin and Palmer have retaliated in a campaign of retaliation that has no limits," said attorney David Marshall.

In a 24-page lawsuit, Pennington and Bowyer allege everything from racism, corruption, and cheating.

They also claim that officials inside D.C. Fire and EMS botched key fire investigations including this massive blaze at Eastern Market. Now they say they are being punished.

"This must stop," said Bowyer. "This complaint seeks to challenge patterns and practices that demonstrate reckless disregard of the truth, unethical and illegal conduct, and abuse of powers."

The firefighters held up pictures of their new positions with D.C Fire and EMS. They now serve snacks to their colleagues and fix fire hydrants for their $100,000 salaries.

Lawyers say the two also exposed a so-called "hit list" targeting African American firefighters to replace them with white firefighters.
Pennington said,

"Although it was 10 people on the hit list that we received from management, this firefighter was ordered to target us," said Pennington. "In exchange this person was paid fire department funds."

"The department leadership has victimized people for telling the truth and there is a racial component, racist to the actions taken against these firefighters and those on the list," said Marshall.

Thursday a call on Mayor Adrian Fenty to intervene before this fire gets any bigger. Kenny Lyons is the fire union president for EMTs with D.C. Fire.

"If these allegations are true and I have no doubt that they are, then you start at the top and work your way down," said Lyons.

D.C. Fire sources say the two were reassigned after the U.S. Attorney's Office began investigating the two firefighters surrounding several fire investigations.

Late Thursday, Chief Rubin released the following statement on the case:

"The allegations made by Gregory Bowyer and Gerald Pennington are completely baseless. In fact, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives investigation also determined that the cause and origin of the Eastern Market and Mount Pleasant fires cannot be determined at this time. We've referred this matter to the Office of the Inspector General for investigation and are confident that it too will conclude that these allegations are meritless."

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