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Tacoma firefighter suspended for derogatory language remains employed

A Pierce County firefighter who was suspended for using derogatory language toward colleagues is now back on the job.

In February of 2018, an anonymous letter was sent to the Tacoma Fire Department. It alleges a workplace culture at the Tacoma Fire Department that is demeaning to women and specifically calls out Tacoma Firefighter and Union President Ryan Mudie.

While the letter doesn't include specific dates, times, or locations, it accuses Mudie of using several derogatory words to describe female co-workers and a homophobic term to male firefighters.

The anonymous writer of the letter wrote that they were, "inspired by the women that have stepped forward in the Me Too Movement."

The City of Tacoma hired an outside investigator to look into the complaint.

After interviewing 41 firefighters, the investigation concluded that Mudie did, in fact, use derogatory words to describe female firefighters and command staff over the course of his 16-year employment and that he used another term for firefighters on the job that he didn't agree with.

As a result, late last year Mudie was suspended for a month without pay.

"Your behavior has made it difficult for me to justify allowing you to remain in the workplace. I continue to have grave concerns about your ongoing employment in this department. The intended suspension rather than termination however is an opportunity for you to correct and cease any offensive or inappropriate behavior,” Tacoma Fire Chief Jim Duggan wrote in the suspension letter. 

KING 5 reached out to Seattle employment attorney Dan Kalish who said employers' zero tolerance policies vary.

"Some people would fire someone immediately for this. Some people would do a slap on the wrist, it just all depends on the company," said Kalish.

While the City of Tacoma has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment and discrimination, that doesn't mean someone will automatically get fired for violating the rules.

"This is part of the problem, is that there is not really a standardization of what's going to happen to people when they're and found to have behaved in an unlawful behavior," said Kalish.

Kalish says in the wake of the Me Too Movement the Washington State Legislature asked the civil rights council to come up with a sexual harassment policy to apply to all state agencies and possibly private companies.

"Companies' reactions to these types of things are just all over the place," said Kalish.

Mudie says the City of Tacoma disciplined him without just cause.

In a letter to the City, the Tacoma Professional Firefighters Union Local 31, said Tacoma is looking to retaliate against Mudie as the union president.

In a statement to KING 5, Mudie wrote in part:

"I appreciate the support that I am receiving from my union and I look forward to having a grievance that has been filed on my behalf resolved by a neutral third party arbitrator as soon as possible."

In 2009, Ryan Mudie faced separate sexual harassment allegations. They were dismissed.

The Tacoma Fire Department declined to comment about the recent suspension due to the arbitration that is set to happen with the union.


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