By Leila Merrill
EVERETT, Wash. — On Wednesday, the Everett City Council approved a $375,000 settlement with former Firefighter-Paramedic Jason Anderson, who alleged in a civil rights complaint in January that he was subjected to racist harassment in the department, the Everett Herald reported.
Anderson had served as a firefighter since 2003 and was one of the first Black men hired by the Everett Fire Department. He claimed that co-workers and supervisors repeatedly used racist stereotypes during his time there.
Anderson left the department in November.
Everett Fire Chief David DeMarco said Anderson was a “valued and respected paramedic and firefighter.”
An outside firm investigated the allegations.
“The City regrets that Mr. Anderson was subjected to the offensive comments and behavior that the investigator concluded occurred as he described,” city spokesperson Kimberley Cline said in an email.
The chief described his department as an “inclusive organization.”