There is a chain of command within the Progressive Black Fire Fighters of Memphis organization. Your actions show that you have no respect for this chain of command. You cannot be a member of the BCOC without being a member of that city's local chapter. You have been given ample opportunity to apply for membership with this organization. So that there is no misunderstanding, I have informed the regional E-Board and the national E-Board that our desire is for them to cease correspondence with you. No longer will you be allowed to participate in IABPFF functions and not be a dues paying member. You have enjoyed the privileges of being a part of us without the responsibilities. It is not fair to this local chapter to allow this charade to continue. Good luck to you in your future endeavors.
 

FROM: Claude Talford
TO: Reggie Davis
DATE: UNKNOWN

I have no idea of what you're talking about. You were repeatedly asked to provide information on Director Anderson and my dues payment. After meeting in his office you were supposed to provide information on the theft of funds and new forms of dues payment. As usual you didn't provide either. You talked about not wanting to be President and you were tired of no help from the rest of the membership. I have been more than willing to help you, but how can I when you have secret meetings. I do not want to be part of any organization where you're supposed to represent the African American members but chose to follow a caucasian male. This organization has floundered under your leadership and eventually the IABPFF will realize that and pull your charter. My dues are paid for the Pioneers and always will be. My dues for Progressive would have been paid also if you knew what you were doing.

Just because your white friend has been appointed Director doesn't give you the right to talk to me like the idiot you are. I will not miss being a part of an organization as unorganized as yours.

Idiot? And you wonder why you were never recommended by this organization. for the position for which you sought!! You have disrespected so so many on your way up, that you did not think that one day you would need us again. Fate has a way of working things out don't they. As for your continued unprofessional ways, we only have to endure you for only a few more days!!!!!!!! Understand this brother, I don't ascribe to manipulative mind games that you and your boys play with other blacks on this job. I don't and didn't owe you nothing. Most of the brothers and sisters saw right through the secret moves you and your boy were planning for the both of you. At our expense. They woke up in the nick of time. And for the record the conversation downtown, was not for me to discuss with non-members. See, you can't bully a man with no fear nor can you intimidate me. Maybe it's time for you to change friends. See a real friend would have pulled your coattail a long time ago and told you that your abusive ways need to change!! But your friends were too afraid to tell you that. Your friends were riding your coattail to do for them what they couldn't do themselves. You were used brother, but you will have plenty of time to think about these things.

FROM: Claude Talford
TO: Reggie Davis
DATE: UNKNOWN

Yes, I am tough but not as abusive as you suggest. You should stick to the facts. You were not saying that when I was telling you how to move up and what to look for when taking assessment tests. I do apologize for the idiot remark. But I figure since you wrote me in such a manner this was an opportune time to get the truth. In all this time you haven't written me about any dues or any meetings. You did pissed me off stating I wasn't paying my dues when you know for a fact I approached you on more than one occasion about that matter. You told me you were getting the dues on each occasion. The only time you stated the dues were not being paid by the city was in Chester office. Once again as stated previously you fell through on providing the necessary documentation. You're right you have the right to back whomever you chose. No matter what you think of me personally I have no regrets about my career and how I have carried myself. I wish you luck in yours. One thing you don't know about me is I know how to push people buttons and get the truth. I knew you lied to me when I asked you about backing Crawford. Was it best to deny it or be a man and speak the truth. You elected to lie and really all I wanted when I sent you the email back was to aggravate you and get the truth. You have provided me with that now. I will not be doing battling email with you. So don't even return one at this point it will not be opened. I really and truly hope that someone can turn this department around and stop the infighting. Maybe someone will eventually help the Pioneers and Progressive become one organization instead of two separate groups. I have never asked for the Union, Pioneers or Progressive recommendations. I have never asked for any recommendations my whole career, anything I got I got on my own merit. My thought process about that is I never want to owe anyone anything because you can't always deliver on such promises and I hate owing anyone.

Good luck to you in your future endeavors.

FROM: Reggie Davis
TO: Claude Talford
DATE: 01/05/04

I agree 100% with you. There's no need to continue correspondence. However you are a man who loves to intimidate people. I was unwilling to put the brothers in "harms way" when it came to them supporting someone other than you. You have this reputation of exacting your wrath upon those who don't agree with you. How and when this change came about in you was surprising. For the record, I once admired you for your toughness and by the book attitude Director, but the language towards people turned me off. Your alliance with certain forces within the department, retired and active, caused more people than you think, to revile you. I tell you what most want, you were supposed to be our hero. Not by force Claude, but by choice. The choice to chose you as our new Director and feel that we were united in supporting our man. You got to know that you stepped on a lot of toes in times and you never made amends. Mayor Herenton made his choice, not the Progressive.

FROM ABC NEWS 24 - www.abc24.com

"As of this date, (January 16, 2004) I was not reappointed.  I have enjoyed working for the City of Memphis for the last twenty-four years and I look forward to what the future holds.  

     Concerning the matter of the e-mail.  I was personally attacked in an e-mail by a fellow firefighter and I faltered in my response.  I apologized to him, the statement was not meant to be racially negative.  If you read the entire e-mail you will understand that.  

     My point to this individual was only to state his organization's mission statement is to make sure qualified African American candidates are promoted fairly through the ranks.  If you go to the International Association of Black Professional Firefighters web site, you will understand the point. 

     I have the utmost respect for all of the men and women that serve the Memphis Fire Division.  I am proud of the excellent service they provide to this community.  I leave with twenty-four years of sound judgment with the Memphis Fire Division."

Claude Talford

Black Professional Firefighters web site

commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN - January 17, 2004

Mayor won't reappoint fire official
By Sherri Drake
January 17, 2004

The Memphis Fire Department's deputy director is out and an interim chief has been named to run the agency until its top two positions are filled.

Mayor Willie Herenton's office announced Friday that Claude Talford would no longer be the department's deputy director of fire services. Talford, a 24-year veteran, was up for reappointment, but Herenton chose not to do so in a letter dated Friday.

Talford said Friday that E-mails in which he made statements that might appear to be racially negative about the mayor's nominee for director had nothing to do with losing his position.

Earlier this month, Talford exchanged several E-mails with Reginald Davis, president of Progressive Black Firefighters of Memphis.

"I do not want to be part of any organization where you're suppose (sic) to represent the African American members but chose to follow a Caucasian male," Talford wrote in a Jan. 5 E-mail.

In an E-mailed response, Davis - who is black - accused Talford of playing mind games to manipulate black firefighters.

"Just because your white friend has been appointed Director doesn't give you right (sic) to talk to me like the idiot you are," Talford wrote.

Talford said Friday his words weren't meant to be derogatory toward Jerry Crawford, Herenton's nominee for director.

Talford is black; Crawford is white.

He said he was trying to get Davis to be up front with him about another subject.

"I was trying to push his buttons and get the truth out of him," Talford said.

Davis couldn't be reached for comment Friday.

Friday, the mayor named John Looney Jr. chief of administrative services until a director and deputy director for fire services are named.

Looney is a 34-year department veteran and most recently worked as chief of training.

"It's a crazy time," Looney said. "My job is to bring some stability back where it's been a little fragmented. To get rid of some of the divisiveness created by this political turmoil."

Friday evening, some 900 people had signed a petition on Memphisfire.net, an unofficial fire department Web site.

The petition asks Herenton and the city council to forgo a national search and name Crawford director.

Crawford's residency in Fayette County was one reason the 26-year MFD veteran wasn't appointed earlier this month, council members said.

Crawford and three other of the mayor's nominees for top administrative posts were struck down by the council.

Crawford got stuck in a political mud hole, said firefighter Lt. Tony Redwine.

"They had it out for him as soon as he walked in there," he said. "For the city council to say he's not worthy, for anybody to say that is bull."

Firefighters made up more than half of those who signed the petition.

"It's pretty obvious their morale in the last few years has been in the dumps," said Councilman Jack Sammons.

Crawford could still be appointed, Sammons said, but it's not likely to happen until a national search is done.

Firefighters Association president Terry Oldham said the 1,800 people working for the MFD are forging ahead. They might not have a leader, but Memphis can still count on them.

"If they call on the Memphis Fire Department, we are going to be there."

- Sherri Drake: 529-2510

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