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New Charlotte fire chief ready to tackle department's issues

By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com
By Joe Bruno, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New Charlotte Fire Chief Reginald Johnson said Friday that improving diversity is one of his top priorities.

In a sit-down interview with Channel 9, Johnson said he is aware of past issues reported about the department and is looking forward to listening and seeing where changes can be made.

The city announced Johnson's hiring Thursday. Friday was his first opportunity to meet his new team.

Johnson comes to the Queen City from Fairfax County, Virginia, where he had been the assistant fire chief since 2015 and had been with the department since 2008.

Johnson's father is a Washington, D.C. metropolitan police officer veteran.

Johnson took a different path than his father, which led him to the No. 2 position in Fairfax County's Fire and Rescue Department.

He starts in Charlotte April 30.

“From day one of the training academy, I realized this was the best job in the world,” Johnson said.

Johnson is leaving behind a department in Fairfax County facing numerous controversies.

A former firefighter accused Fairfax County Fire and Rescue of tolerating and defending sexual harassment, retaliation and a hostile work environment.

Channel 9 reporter Joe Bruno asked Johnson that with all the claims about Fairfax County Fire, if he understands why some may be leery about him taking the job in Charlotte.

“Absolutely,” Johnson said. “Even through the process, I said feel free to reach out to anyone.”

A senior city official involved in the hiring process said Charlotte leaders are satisfied Johnson had nothing to do with the claims against his former employer.

Channel 9 contacted the firefighter who made those allegations, former Fairfax battalion chief Kathleen Stanley, who said Johnson was not involved in the controversies.

Still, Johnson said the allegations are serious and deserve to be investigated

“Any large agency you will have people who step out of line,” Johnson said.

Stanley said she was contacted by the Charlotte leaders before Johnson was hired.

Johnson replaces former Charlotte Fire Chief Jon Hannan, who retired last August following a series of controversies within the department, including a lack of diversity in hiring and promotion along with a whistleblower lawsuit that cost the city just under $1.5 million.

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Johnson told Channel 9 he knows he has to change public perception and iron out some internal conflict within the Charlotte Fire Department.

He is aware of the reports and is eager to see if changes need to be made.

Johnson plans on visiting all 42 Charlotte fire stations, during all three shifts.

“From the outside going in, my plan is to listen, listen, listen, read and research,” he said.

Johnson said task in front of him won't be easy.

Channel 9 has investigated the Charlotte Fire Department for years, including claims of harassment, intimidation, unfair hiring and promotion practices for women and minorities

“The goal is to never go backward, always go forward,” Johnson said.

Johnson said one of his top priorities going into the job is diversity and wants to review the recruitment, hiring and promotion process to make sure no one is falling through the cracks.

“If everyone is the same, same background, same culture, then you get that same mindset,” he said.

Johnson wants people to not only be comfortable working for the department, but also for the city to trust it.

He also wants his firefighters to be engaged in the community.

“If we are not out there providing service to the community then there is no fire department,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he is committed to having a transparent fire department and will also be heavily focused on the mental health and safety of all of his workers.

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