The Minneapolis City Council will consider the nomination of Dr. Reginald Freeman as the city's next fire chief on Thursday.
The meeting comes after Freeman was grilled last week over his time leading fire departments in Oakland and Hartford, where allegations were made that the department had a history of harassment and discrimination against women, and based on race.
Freeman himself was not named as a defendant.
"What you rely on is that people in positions of authority do the right thing," Freeman told the council. "And one thing I can assure this committee, the council, as well as the residents, as well as the members of Minneapolis Fire Department, there's absolutely never been an issue that's been brought to my attention that I did not quickly and swiftly act on."
Freeman said he was hired to fix issues at those previous fire departments.
"I suspended and, or fired, terminated more firefighters in my tenure than the prior three chiefs before me had done during their time as fire chief," Freeman explains. "I am known as someone who brings structure, organization, and discipline to an organization. I would never not act on anything that's brought to my attention."
Freeman is the choice of Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, but he still needs council approval.
The council meets starting at 9:30 Thursday morning.
