Houston fires 12 cadet trainees after investigation reveals racist and hateful behavior.
HOUSTON — A dozen firefighter cadets in Houston have been dismissed from the training program, according to Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz.
Munoz said the dismissals were related to “racist and hateful behavior.” A source within HFD said the 12 cadets involved were in a private group chat on Instagram, where they were sharing “rude” and “crass” things.
A member of the cadet class made HFD aware of the chat, according to the source. It is unknown if that person was part of the chat.
In a statement to KHOU 11 News, Muñoz said investigations were conducted by both the Houston Fire Department’s Professional Standards Division and the city’s Office of Inspector General.
The cadets involved were terminated on Friday, April 18. The graduation occurred on Thursday, April 24.
Houston City Council Member Twila Carter, who sits on the Public Safety Committee, called the whole situation disheartening.
“It’s unfortunate and surprising that these cadets chose to, that they made the choices that they have, and certainly, it does not align with the Houston Fire Department,” Carter said. “This is just showing some bad choices, and it’s cost them a career with the Houston Fire Department.”
HFD said that as part of a cadet’s onboarding, in the first week or two of their seven to eight months of training, they take an anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training.
The source said that when HFD was made aware of the group chat, cadets were given another anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training.
Everyone in the cadet class was notified about an issue regarding insensitive comments being made, but the source said no one owned up to it or admitted their involvement.
According to the city’s budget, about $100,000 goes into each cadet before they become a firefighter, which includes salaries, equipment, gear and more. That means the 12 cadets terminated is the equivalent of $1.2 million gone.
“$1.2 million, that’s a lot. I mean, anything is a lot to lose, and it’s unfortunate that their behaviors have cost the city financially,” Carter said. “It’s just unfortunate. We’ve got a deficit, and this just adds to it.”
HFD said 39 cadets in the 2024D class passed the TCFP state requirements, but only 27 cadet made it to the graduation swearing-in; the other 12 were terminated after passing the test but before the swearing-in ceremony.
Read the full statement from Chief Muñoz:
“HFD was made aware of behavior by a group of 12 cadets, who were not yet sworn members of the Department, that is inconsistent with the code of conduct. Investigations by both HFD’s Professional Standards division and the City’s Office of Inspector General were conducted, and the cadets in question were terminated.”