KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Kansas City will pay a Black firefighter $250,000 to settle a lawsuit he filed after being passed over for promotions in favor of white colleagues.
The City Council on Thursday approved the settlement for Stephen Seals, a battalion chief in the department. He sued in federal court in 2019, saying white colleagues were chosen over him for promotion to deputy chief several times. In one instance, then-Chief Gary Reese promoted a white firefighter without posting the position.
The lawsuit said Seals was discriminated against because of his age and race, and in retaliation for reporting previous discrimination, The Kansas City Star reported.
Attorney Athena Dickson said Seals plans to continue his firefighting career while helping to make the department a better place to work.
Fire department leaders are working to change the department after The Star published a series last year showing how city and fire officials tolerated racism and sexism in the department for decades.
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