Firefighter Terminated for Bringing a Watermelon to Work
Firefighter terminated for bringing a watermelon to work
BY DEAN DANIELS/ OCTOBER 9, 2017
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Detroit firefighter Robert Pattison, 41, was terminated before his first day on the job for bringing a watermelon to work. He introduced himself to his new colleagues and fellow firefighters at Engine 55 at the corner of Joy and Southfield in Detroit by bringing a welcome gift.
Second Battalion Chief Shawn McCarty calls this welcome gift “a tradition” for Engine 55’s firefighters: “It’s not mandatory, it’s voluntary. You come in bearing gifts. The usual gift is doughnuts, but you are allowed to bring whatever you want to bring in.”
Pattison, who was a probationary firefighter, brought a watermelon with a pink bow on top. However, some black firefighters were reportedly offended by Pattison’s gesture since 90 percent of the firefighters at Engine 55 are black or people of color.
“When you get your first detail at a firehouse you pretty much know what you are getting yourself into,” said Patrick Trout. “So, you would have to say it was probably a bad call.”
McCarty said that some people at the firehouse believe it’s “racially insensitive” to bring a watermelon to a firehouse, though Pattison argued that he did not bring in the watermelon as a joke or with malice and had no intention of offending his colleagues.
Fire Commissioner Eric Jones said in a statement that Pattison was officially fired.
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Fireman Fired Over 'Racially Insensitive' Watermelon
Fireman fired over 'racially insensitive' watermelon
Detroit firefighter dismissed over 'racist' watermelon gift
Choice of gift considered racially insensitive
Robert Pattison, a 41-year-old probationary fireman had just completed his training at the firefighter training academy and was appointed to Engine 55 in Detroit, MI.
As part of the Detroit firehouse’s tradition, Pattison went to the station to introduce himself to his colleagues, and to bring a gift.
"It's not mandatory, it's voluntary," Second Battalion Chief Shawn McCarty told Fox2. "You come in bearing gifts. The usual gift is doughnuts, but you are allowed to bring whatever you want to bring in."
Pattison brought a giant watermelon topped with a pink bow.
The gift was not received well by his fellow firefighters – 90 percent of whom are black – and resulted in Pattison’s swift termination before he had officially started.
Fox2 reports that several African-American firefighters at Engine 55 were offended by the watermelon, which has been used as a racist symbol since the slavery era.
Engine 55 firefighter Patrick Trout said Pattison bringing the watermelon was “probably a bad call.”
“When you get your first detail at a firehouse, you pretty much know what you are getting yourself into,” Trout said to Fox2.
Pattison reportedly said the watermelon – which was delivered whole and not served – was intended to be a gift, not a joke.
However, the fire department decided after an investigation into the incident that the best action was to fire Pattison.
"After a thorough investigation, it was determined that the best course of action was to terminate the employment of this probationary employee,” Fire Commissioner Eric Jones said in a statement.
“There is zero tolerance for discriminatory behavior inside the Detroit Fire Department. On Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Engine 55, a trial firefighter (probationary employee) engaged in unsatisfactory work behavior which was deemed offensive and racially insensitive to members of the Detroit Fire Department,” the statement said.
When McCarty was asked if it is “racially insensitive to bring a watermelon into a fire house,” the Chief said that it is “to some people.”
Though, the Chief admits he thinkd there may have been a different course of action than firing Pattison, and that he didn’t think Pattison deserved to lose his job.
“Between what he did and losing his job, there were a few things that could have been done,” McCarty said.
McCarty went on to say that a group of firefighters wanted Pattison fired, but many wanted him to be able to stay so they could begin a discussion about why his gift was seen as offensive and start a dialogue.
Since Pattison’s termination, a petition has been started demanding his reinstatement. As of Tuesday evening, over 700 have signed it.
We contacted the Fire Commissioner’s office, but did not receive a response. Robert Pattison was not immediately available for comment.
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