Cincinnati fire chief fired over concerning workplace culture

The Cincinnati city manager, Paula Boggs Muething, has fired the city’s fire chief, Roy Winston, over his inaction in addressing a “concerning workplace culture” within the department. According to Muething, the investigation into the culture was prompted by multiple complaints from firefighters, EMTs, and civilians. The investigation uncovered various incidents of discriminatory, sexist, and violent behavior. The city’s mayor, John Cranley, expressed his support for the termination of Winston, stating that “everyone deserves to feel safe and respected in their workplace.” This decision comes on the heels of a national reckoning with the treatment of women and minorities in fire departments across the country. Some advocates applaud the city’s actions as a step towards creating safer and more inclusive work environments, but others are concerned about the remaining challenges Baltimore Sun reporter Christine Condon describes the increasing national attention on workplace culture in fire departments, making this an important development in an ongoing conversation.