MSNBC's Mary Benton Reports: "SOME WANT FIRE CHIEF TO RESIGN"

Some Want Fire Chief To Resign
By Mary Benton

POSTED: Wednesday, May 20, 2009

HOUSTON -- After meeting behind closed doors Wednesday with Houston Fire Chief Phil Boriskie, members of several community groups called for the chief to resign, KPRC Local 2 reported.

WATCH IT: Groups Call For Resignation

The groups said the community has lost faith in Boriskie's leadership after several racially insensitive incidents were reported in the Houston Fire Department.

One incident involved a noose that was discovered in the locker of a Houston fire department captain.

Critics say the captain should have been terminated, but instead he was issued a written reprimand.

"If Dr. Martin Luther King were here today, he would be marching on the Houston Fire Department against this symbol of hate," said community activist Shelby Stewart as he held up a noose in front of the fire department headquarters.

"We find this man to be totally incapable to hold down the job of fire chief, and we say to Mayor White, 'Since you put him there, you should remove him,'" said Deric Muhammad with the Million More Movement.

Boriskie has held the top job at the Houston Fire Department since 2004 and is responsible for more than 4,000 employees.

He did not comment about Thursday's call for his resignation, but sources told news reporter Mary Benton that the chief is hurt by allegations that the fire department has a problem with racism.

Meanwhile, Patrick Trahan, the press secretary for Mayor Bill White, told Local 2 late Wednesday that the mayor fully supports the fire chief.