Just on the heels of Chief Sherman George’s (St. Louis’ first and only black fire chief) dismissal by City Hall, racial tensions are further inflamed after an area firefighter says that he was the victim of a hate crime over the weekend.
City fire officials are investigating claims that a noose and stuffed monkey were hung inside an engine house.
The firefighter says that a noose and a stuffed monkey were hung inside St. Louis fire station number thirteen located at Shawmut and Ridge in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood on Saturday.
Chief Jenkerson told KSDK-TV that “there was no noose,” though the pictures show a strap, similar to a seat belt or clothing. Next to the monkey can be seen a rope hanging from the bar, which is tied with a large loop on the end.”
Jenkerson claims to be taking the claim seriously even though he believes the incident to be a “misinterpretation”
Jenkerson says all three shifts at fire station 13 still have to be interviewed.
Once the fire department’s internal investigation is over, the findings will be reviewed by the city’s legal department, and could possibly be handed over to the police department.