Sensitivity training set for six county divisions

Adrienne Packer

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 | 10:41 a.m.

Clark County's newly created Office of Diversity has identified six county departments suitable for sensitivity training, including McCarran International Airport, the target of two publicized discrimination lawsuits.

Office Director Therese Scupi said since her division opened in March, staff members have mulled over demographic breakdowns of several departments.

The airport was placed atop her priority list after McCarran officials requested training and assistance in enhancing the airport's diversity plan, Scupi said.

"We need to understand where we are and where we need to go; we need to look at our history," Scupi said. "We need to look at how we behaved, real or imagined, and see what we can do to ensure there are no barriers in acquiring and retaining a qualified work force."

Other divisions that will work on diversity plans include comprehensive planning, development services, public defenders, juvenile justice services and the fire department.

The Office of Diversity is investigating 30 discrimination complaints, but Scupi declined to identify from which divisions they derived. The county is also responding to a handful of cases handled by the Nevada Equal Rights Commission.

The office was formerly known as the Equal Employment Office (EEO). County Manager Thom Reilly said the Office of Diversity is more proactive, meeting with department heads to discuss outreach programs to make full use of the community's work force.

"We want to know what are some of the issues," Reilly said. "The reputation of the EEO was they only knocked on the door when there was a complaint. (The new office is) not punitive, it's proactive. What resources do you need to address this issue?"

Reilly's intention is for department heads to recruit more minorities, but Office of Diversity staff members will also train managers and follow up to ensure that policies are being followed.

Scupi didn't deny that perceptions about hiring and promoting practices exist.

Three pending lawsuits against McCarran, for example, were filed by black men who claim they were repeatedly passed over for promotions. They claimed they were discriminated against based on race and religion.

In January 2001, a black female recruit filed a complaint against the Fire Department after she found a hangman's noose above her equipment.

"We have to have training," Scupi said. "In doesn't make sense to get all the processes in place that ensure a more equitable interviewing and selection process, then you get here and don't have that support."

Debbie Millett, a McCarran spokeswoman, said the airport has held regular workshops to educate employees and managers on workplace harassment and discrimination.

"It's not a new thing," she said. "We have put a lot of emphasis on prohibiting discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion or age."