A Jacksonville fire captain testified Monday in federal court about what he calls discrimination and retaliation by his fellow firefighters.
"I felt rejected and dejected," Capt. Eric Mitchell testified before a jury.
Mitchell filed a lawsuit against Division Chief Gail Loput, Fire Chief Kurt Wilson and the city of Jacksonville. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue follows a chain of command, however, Mitchell said that command was broken when he was forced to answer to a lower ranking officer. Mitchell said, when he spoke up about it, he was retaliated against.
Mitchell testified that on Aug. 12, 2015, the chief of training, Loput, assigned Mitchell a liaison, Lt. Jesse Brown who is a white man with a lower rank.
Brown was assigned to talk to Mitchell on Loput's behalf.
Mitchell said he asked Loput why, and Loput's response was "It's easier for her to speak to Brown." Mitchell then had to answer to a lower ranking officer.