ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Jerrod Jones, a 14-year Rochester firefighter veteran, is suing the fire department and the city after Jones said his captain directed him to go to a party that mocked Juneteenth.

Jones said people at the party also mocked county elected officials, which included someone who impersonated Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart as a stripper.

The lawsuit describes a party at an East Avenue home that used old tropes, like buckets of fried chicken, to make fun of Juneteenth, a holiday to commemorate liberation from slavery. There were photos of local politicians with stakes through them throughout the yard, according to the suit.

“What I had to experience a month ago, it cut me very deeply,” Jones said.

Jones and his attorney Nate McMurray spoke about the party at a Thursday press conference at City Hall. Jones said he wants to see a change in the fire department that he loves.

“I decided to speak up today because I have two children that maybe one day will aspire to be firefighters and I don’t want them to have to experience what I experienced,” he said. “I wouldn’t want your kids to have to experience that.”

The discrimination lawsuit is suing the city and Rochester Fire Department, not the people who threw the party. The department suspended Jones’ captain.

McMurray said that his client felt compelled to go to the party because it was the captain’s idea and they always travel as a team. Jones saw several other firefighters and first responders at the party.

According to the lawsuit, Jones believes he was a senior member of the Rochester Police Department at the party. RPD Chief David Smith launched an internal investigation on Thursday.

McMurray said that Jones’ fire commanders didn’t take his concerns seriously when he complained about the party.

“When Mr. Jones went to his commanders, his officers above him and he said—this is terrible. Can you address this? Can we handle this? They assigned him to work with the same captain the next shift,” McMurray said.

McMurray said that Jones was pressured by some firefighters and elected officials not to file the complaint. McMurray declined to comment on the names of the people who pressured Jones to stay silent.

McMurray said he will be interviewing people who were at the party and the investigation may lead to more disciplinary action.

General Order 4.1 of the Rochester Fire Department says “employees shall not engage in conduct on or off-duty, which has a tendency to impair public respect for the employee and, or the Department.”

The lawsuit listed the address of the party, which is the home of the Nicosia couple. Nicholas Nicosia is a dentist and member of the board of directors at Highland Hospital. Mary Nicosia is on the board of the Landmark Society of Western New York.

News10NBC spoke to one of the people who owns the home where the party took place and they did not want to comment.

Many elected officials spoke at the Thursday news conference to denounce the party. County Legislator Rachel Barnhart said she was appalled to hear about the depiction of her as a stripper by a woman in a red wig.

“When we dehumanize people we make it a lot easier to commit violence against them,” Barnhart said. “For example, reducing me to a sexual object as this party did, that was deliberate. It was to take away my mind, my voice, my credibility, my agency and my humanity.”

Barnhart thanked Jones for speakout out about the party. Jones said he hopes the lawsuit leads to changes in how the fire department addresses discrimination.

“Today I hope this is the last time we’ll have to address an issue like this in the Rochester Fire Department,” Jones said. “A department I love very deeply and that has done a lot for me.”

Both Nicholas and Mary Nicosia have been suspended from organizations that they worked with.

Highland Hospital said that it was appalled by the allegations against Dr. Nicholas Nicosia and said the actions described were against the hospital’s values. The hospital announced on Twitter that they asked for the resignation of Nicosia and he accepted the resignation.

Highland Hospital was appalled to learn today of the allegations regarding Nicholas Nicosia, a member of our Board of Directors. Activities such as those described in these allegations are an affront to Highland’s mission and values. We are currently trying to reach Dr. Nicosia.

“We understand the profoundly negative impact these allegations have made on our community, and we felt swift action was necessary to continue to fulfill our mission and values,” the hospital wrote in a series of Tweets.

Nicosia was a team dentist for the hockey team Rochester Amerks. The Amerks said in a statement that they have chosen to end Nicosia’s relationship with the team. The statement said:

“We have chosen to end Dr. Nicosia’s relationship with our team upon learning of recent allegations. We do not tolerate racism in any form and it has no place in our world. We urge all individuals to help end racism and choose love in all their interactions with others.”

The Landmark Society of Western New York said it was appalled by the allegations against Mary Nicosia and announced her suspension as a member of their board of directors. The statement said the actions described don’t align with the Landmark Society’s values.

Full statement from The Landmark Society of Western NY on the allegations regarding a party that was held at the residence of a member of our Board of Directors, Mary Nicosia. pic.twitter.com/63ap6AuU5J

The Rochester Fire Department said the internal investigation is over. The supervisor who was named in the complaint remains on suspension. A statement from RFD said:

“The disciplinary action was sent to the supervisor this week and the supervisor remains on suspension until the action has been received and accepted. This remains an active personnel matter, so we cannot comment further.”

The Nicosia family released a statement saying that they disagree with how they are being characterized. Nicholas Nicosia wrote:

“My wife Mary and I were surprised and disappointed about the allegations that have been made against us, and by the responses being posted on social media. We strongly disagree with how we are being characterized and are hopeful that the community will hold its judgment while we seek to clear our names. Highland Hospital has asked me to step down from its board of directors, and I have agreed to do so, so that I can focus on my efforts on restoring our reputations.”

We will update this story with any more information once it becomes available.

Press conference at City Hall

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