leads to the understatement of this year from a news outlet:
"raises questions of racism"
Newly obtained video of Southeast Bullitt Fire Department chief raises questions of racism
BULLITT COUNTY, Ky. (WDRB) -- When WDRB raised questions about mismanagement within a local fire department, it brought new information that raises questions of racism. Now, Valerie Chinn has uncovered shocking new video of Southeast Bullitt Fire Chief Julius Hatfield.
Video from a Bullitt County Sheriff's deputy's body camera shows Hatfield's department responding to a car accident on I-65, south of the Clermont exit in September.
"Well, I've got a family of four from Cincinnati, I got to do something with," the Bullitt County deputy said in the video.
Hatfield replied, "We ain't taking no n------ here." Then he laughs.
The partially censored expletive was a derogatory racial term.
Hatfield -- seen in a yellow shirt -- offers to help Loren Dicken, whose pickup truck was involved in the crash.
"You got a jack, ain't you?" Hatfield asked. "If you show me where them things is at, I'll get my guys to start changing the tire for you."
"That's alright," Dicken said.
"It will save you a bill," Hatfield said.
Dicken was taken to the hospital and released. Then, according to the Bullitt County Sheriff's Department, firefighters picked him up and took him to the firehouse where his car was waiting for him.
But it's a very different story for the other driver. Chege Mwangi, his wife and two children, were in the other car involved in the crash.
"We don't have Triple A," Mwangi said.
"No Triple A?" the deputy asked. "Okay...Who is driving?"
"Me," Mwangi replied.
"I need your driver's license, proof of insurance and the registration on the car," the deputy said.
"I have.. I have.. this is my proof of insurance," Mwangi said.
Mwangi, who is black, says he didn't get the same treatment from the Southeast Bullitt Fire Department. He says he noticed firefighters helping Dicken, but not him or his family. Nevertheless, he didn't think anything of it because his family wasn't injured and didn't need assistance. He says he mostly dealt with the Bullitt County Sheriff's Department, which was helpful.
Mwangi's claims brought another startling remark from the chief, who had a surprising reaction at an open meeting recently when WDRB asked questions about financial mismanagement and empty firehouses within the Southeast Bullitt Fire Department.
"Why are there so many firehouses that are empty?" WDRB's Valerie Chinn asked Hatfield at the meeting.
"Do you understand English darling?" Hatfield replied. "Do you understand English?"
Hatfield tried to have Chinn and her photographer removed from the public meeting.
"Turn that camera off," Hatfield ordered. "I've asked you that in a nice way. Buddy, call the cops and get them here."
"I asked you once tonight if you understand English," he added. "I'm speaking English."
The Kentucky State Auditor's Office is looking into the Fire Protection District's finances and expects to release its findings soon.
Chinn spoke to Hatfield on the phone about his language at the I-65 crash. He didn't want to go on camera, but said he doesn't remember the incident and sometimes there is a slip of the tongue. He also apologized for the way he treated Chinn last week.
Newly obtained video of Southeast Bullitt Fire Department chief - WDRB 41 Louisville News
what in the actual fuk man?
"raises questions of racism"
Newly obtained video of Southeast Bullitt Fire Department chief raises questions of racism
BULLITT COUNTY, Ky. (WDRB) -- When WDRB raised questions about mismanagement within a local fire department, it brought new information that raises questions of racism. Now, Valerie Chinn has uncovered shocking new video of Southeast Bullitt Fire Chief Julius Hatfield.
Video from a Bullitt County Sheriff's deputy's body camera shows Hatfield's department responding to a car accident on I-65, south of the Clermont exit in September.
"Well, I've got a family of four from Cincinnati, I got to do something with," the Bullitt County deputy said in the video.
Hatfield replied, "We ain't taking no n------ here." Then he laughs.
The partially censored expletive was a derogatory racial term.
Hatfield -- seen in a yellow shirt -- offers to help Loren Dicken, whose pickup truck was involved in the crash.
"You got a jack, ain't you?" Hatfield asked. "If you show me where them things is at, I'll get my guys to start changing the tire for you."
"That's alright," Dicken said.
"It will save you a bill," Hatfield said.
Dicken was taken to the hospital and released. Then, according to the Bullitt County Sheriff's Department, firefighters picked him up and took him to the firehouse where his car was waiting for him.
But it's a very different story for the other driver. Chege Mwangi, his wife and two children, were in the other car involved in the crash.
"We don't have Triple A," Mwangi said.
"No Triple A?" the deputy asked. "Okay...Who is driving?"
"Me," Mwangi replied.
"I need your driver's license, proof of insurance and the registration on the car," the deputy said.
"I have.. I have.. this is my proof of insurance," Mwangi said.
Mwangi, who is black, says he didn't get the same treatment from the Southeast Bullitt Fire Department. He says he noticed firefighters helping Dicken, but not him or his family. Nevertheless, he didn't think anything of it because his family wasn't injured and didn't need assistance. He says he mostly dealt with the Bullitt County Sheriff's Department, which was helpful.
Mwangi's claims brought another startling remark from the chief, who had a surprising reaction at an open meeting recently when WDRB asked questions about financial mismanagement and empty firehouses within the Southeast Bullitt Fire Department.
"Why are there so many firehouses that are empty?" WDRB's Valerie Chinn asked Hatfield at the meeting.
"Do you understand English darling?" Hatfield replied. "Do you understand English?"
Hatfield tried to have Chinn and her photographer removed from the public meeting.
"Turn that camera off," Hatfield ordered. "I've asked you that in a nice way. Buddy, call the cops and get them here."
"I asked you once tonight if you understand English," he added. "I'm speaking English."
The Kentucky State Auditor's Office is looking into the Fire Protection District's finances and expects to release its findings soon.
Chinn spoke to Hatfield on the phone about his language at the I-65 crash. He didn't want to go on camera, but said he doesn't remember the incident and sometimes there is a slip of the tongue. He also apologized for the way he treated Chinn last week.
Newly obtained video of Southeast Bullitt Fire Department chief - WDRB 41 Louisville News
what in the actual fuk man?
