“Appointing a fire chief, police chief, or economic development director, or public works director, or streets department director because of his of her race is wrong,” said Mayor Francis Slay today standing next to Public Safety Director Charles Bryson.
Slay and Bryson announced Dennis Jenkerson as the new fire chief.
Some important things about today’s promotion of Jenkerson as the head of the city’s fire department:
- Jenkerson is a personal friend of Francis Slay;
- Francis Slay changed the rules to by-pass the leading deputy chief candidate, who was black (Historically, only deputy chiefs are considered for chief);
- Jenkerson was a battalion chief, a lower rank than deputy chief;
- Jenkerson is currently being investigated by St. Louis police for authorizing firefighters under his command to do personal work for lobbyist Lou Hamilton while on duty;
- This situation just got worse.
