On his last day on the job Monday, Chicago Fire Commissioner Edward Altman Jr. denied that he had advance knowledge of a controversial videotape of a firehouse party and lamented that the tape has “totally reversed people’s feelings” about a department that he said does its job very well.
Though personable and affable, Altman was the center of controversy to the very end. During an impromptu interview where Altman made his comments–at the head of a congratulatory reception line in his City Hall office–a Fire Department press aide forcefully intervened to stop the questioning by reporters.
Altman announced his resignation last month after his son, Edward Altman III, a former Fire Department official, sued the city and charged that he was double-crossed by his father and fired after release of the volatile videotape of the 1990 retirement party.
The tape, which became public in late 1997, captured firefighters drinking beer, making racial slurs and engaging in rowdy behavior.
The younger Altman, previously head of internal investigations in the department, has charged that he told his father of the tape in mid-1997, months before it became public, suggesting that the senior Altman failed to take immediate disciplinary action.
The outgoing commissioner on Monday asserted that his son informed him of the video in November of 1997.
“If he in some way feels I knew about the tape, he is mistaken,” the senior Altman said. “That is not true.”
Altman acknowledged that the episode has produced a “family tragedy.” “But there isn’t anything I can do about it,” he said.
Asked what he would have done differently, Altman replied: “I have thought about it and thought about it and thought about it. I really don’t know what I could have done with that tape.”
He said that it was “a shame” it did not come to light at the time of the party and insisted that sentiment had nothing to do with the fact that his predecessor, Raymond Orozco, was still in charge.
“It could have had some repercussions in terms of discipline and of sharpening the Fire Department’s awareness of some of the problems that were out there so we could have worked with diversity training long before we did,” Altman said.
Altman reflected on what he believes is the department’s new and tarnished image.
“The Fire Department has always been a kind of low-profile department.” The press only reported on “big fires and rescues and things of that type (and) we have always enjoyed a good reputation.”
But the video “totally reversed people’s feelings about the department, and that is upsetting to me,” Altman said. “When the chips are down (firefighters) come through and really put out an effort and they get the job done.”
After three reporters questioned Altman for about five minutes, press aide Will Knight declared the interview over and pushed a reporter away from Altman as he turned off her tape recorder.
Knight said later that what he did was “very appropriate” and asserted he did not grab the reporter.
