Allegations Filed Against Shreveport Fire Chief

A high-ranking member of the Shreveport Fire Department has leveled some serious accusations against Fire Chief Clarence Reese Jr.

A civil rights activist has filed a formal complaint with the City of Shreveport on behalf of Deputy Fire Chief Carolyn Henderson.

In the complaint, Norris Guillot Jr writes:

I am formally requesting that immediate and appropriate action be taken to cease and desist all acts of retaliation, disparate treatment, undue scrutiny of job performance, and excessive workload assignments being directed toward Deputy Fire Chief Carolyn Henderson.

This EEOC complaint also accuses Chief Reese of making “statements to multiple individuals, both within the department and in the broader community regarding his intentions to retaliate against Deputy Chief Henderson for filing a formal complaint against him.”

Chief Henderson Also Files Complaint with Local Board

Chief Henderson has filed a case with the Fire and Police Civil Service Board accusing Chief Reese of “discriminatory practices and abuse of authority.” Her case is expected to be heard by the board at its meeting on Wednesday.

KEEL News reached out to Chief Reese and he told us he has no comment and will let his case speak for him.

The complaint filed by Guillot, who is based in Dallas, says such conduct, if substantiated, would “constitute a grave abuse of power and a clear violation of anti-retaliation protections under federal law.”

Guillot says he will no longer delay pursuing legal recourse on behalf of Henderson. The initial plan was to wait until after the Civil Service hearing, but that has changed. Guillot says “my office will proceed today with the filing of a formal Charge of Discrimination with both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Should there be no immediate and meaningful intervention, I will have no choice but to publicly disclose that the highest-ranking female in the Shreveport Fire Department has confirmed experiencing the very same discriminatory and hostile work environment that has been alleged by other female firefighters within the department."

The exact details of these allegations have not been revealed.