The United States Department of Justice has opened an investigation into whether the New York City Fire Department's hiring practices discriminate against black and Hispanic firefighting candidates. The inquiry was begun after black firefighters filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission two years ago. After a 2001 audit by the city's Equal Employment Practices Commission sweeping changes in the recruiting and hiring of minority candidates was recommended.
See "Fire Department Is Investigated Over Bias in Hiring Practices", Michelle O?Donnell, The New York Times, February 14, 2005