A Florida police chief has been let go after he priotized minority candidates during the hiring process according to CNN. Scirotto had been accused of looking past white candidates, however, denied this claim saying  his intentions were to create a department that was a reflection of the diverse community he served. The city hired a law firm to look into his  hiring practices. The investigation found Scirotto  hired 15 people between August and November and six of those people are of ethnic or gender minorities who were selected for promotions. Scirotto is reported to have said the wall with photos of department staff was “too white” and had plans to change it.

According to CNN:

“None of them were promoted because they were in a protected class,” he said. “They were promoted because they were the best candidates.”

Scirotto said he has obtained legal counsel and is planning on filing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city.

“If promoting diversity is the hill I’m going to die on, I will sleep well tonight,” he said. “I won’t allow them to tarnish my reputation. I won’t allow them to tarnish the work that I’ve done in the 24 years I’ve been in this profession.”

Scirotto was said to recall narrowing down two candidates of color by deciding which one was “blacker,” according to CNN. However, he has denied the allegation but said his intentions of diversifying the “white wall” was intentional.  Scirotto said that he wanted to convince the community that the department was diverse. The witnesses in the investigation weren’t supportive of his methods.

According to the investigation, 21 witnesses says they were aware of his intention of promoting people based on race or gender and disapproved of this concept. Some believed the change was necessary, however, basing promotions on a person’s race or gender would have “hurt or undermined” those people. Scirotto was fired from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department March 3. Now the police department is in the selection process for a new chief, reported CNN.

Read more:

U.S. Government compensated slave owners for their ‘loyalty to the Union’ and for the loss of income incurred by freeing slaves

10 Historical Photos From The Civil Rights Movement