ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A 14-year veteran Rochester firefighter is suing the fire department and the city over what happened to him after he and other firefighters were taken to a private party while on duty.

The lawsuit says the firefighter’s captain directed the firefighters to go to the party. That captain is suspended.

The lawsuit describes a party that mocked the Juneteenth celebration with old tropes like buckets of fried chicken and the suit says there were photos of local politicians on stakes in the ground.

The complaint is suing the city and RFD, not the people who threw the party.

‘What I had to experience a month ago, it cut me very deeply,” firefighter Jerrod Jones said at a news conference on the steps of City Hall.

Jones is suing the city and RFD for discrimination.

“I’m sorry to even have to be here today but in order for things to change we have to do difficult things,” he said.

His lawyer, Nate McMurray says Jones felt compelled to go to the party at the home on East Avenue because it was the captain’s idea and they always travel as a team.

McMurray described some of the things Jones and several other firefighters saw at the party. “He saw signs mocking Juneteenth under which there were buckets of fried chicken. He saw on the ground, posts with the pictures of elected officials throughout the yard,’ McMurray said. “And when Mr. Jones went to his commanders, his officers above him and he said—this is terrible. Can you address this? Can we handle this? They assigned him to work with the same captain the next shift.”

McMurray says Jones has been pressured by some firefighters and elected officials not to file the complaint but he would not answer my question about who those people are.

“I decided to speak up today because I have two children that maybe one day will aspire to be firefighters and I don’t want them to have to experience what I experienced,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t want your kids to have to experience that.”

News10NBC spoke to one of the people who own the home where the party took place and they did not want to comment.

The filing listed the address of the party, which is the home of Nicholas Nicosia, a dentist and member of the board of directors at Highland Hospital, an affiliate of the University of Rochester Medical Center. A phone message was left Thursday at Nicosia’s office.

In a tweet Thursday afternoon, the hospital said it was “appalled” at the allegations and was trying to reach Dr. Nicosia.

Highland Hospital was appalled to learn today of the allegations regarding Nicholas Nicosia, a member of our Board of Directors. Activities such as those described in these allegations are an affront to Highland’s mission and values. We are currently trying to reach Dr. Nicosia.

Nicosia was reportedly a team dentist for the hockey team Rochester Amerks. The Amerks said in a statement that they have chosen to end Nicosia’s relationship with the team. The statement said:

“We have chosen to end Dr. Nicosia’s relationship with our team upon learning of recent allegations. We do not tolerate racism in any form and it has no place in our world. We urge all individuals to help end racism and choose love in all their interactions with others.”

A statement from the Landmark Society of Western said the party was held at the residence of a board member, Mary Nicosia. We’re working to get more information on the relationship between Mary and Nicholas Nicosia. The statement said that the Landmark Society was appalled by the allegation and that Nicosia has been suspended from her position on the board. The Landmark Society said that the actions described don’t align with their values.

Full statement from The Landmark Society of Western NY on the allegations regarding a party that was held at the residence of a member of our Board of Directors, Mary Nicosia. pic.twitter.com/63ap6AuU5J

The RFD says the internal investigation is over, the disciplinary action was “sent to the supervisor this week and the supervisor remains on suspension until the action has been received and accepted.”

The lawsuit says the photos of local politicians and public figures were on stakes in the ground. The lawsuit says Monroe County Legislator Rachel Barnhart was depicted as a stripper by a woman in a red wig.

“When we dehumanize people we make it a lot easier to commit violence against them,” Barnhart said. “For example, reducing me to a sexual object as this party did, that was deliberate. It was to take away my mind, my voice, my credibility, my agency and my humanity.”

“I have serious concerns about what I am reading and I think as this investigation closes and we continue to learn more of the facts, we will have an adjudication on what happened here,” said Mayor Malik Evans.

“So today I hope this is the last time we’ll have to address an issue like this in the Rochester Fire Department,” Jones said. “A department I love very deeply and that has done a lot for me.”

The lawsuit says Jones believes he saw a senior member of the RPD at the party. Today RPD Chief David Smith launched an internal investigation.

General Order 4.1 says in part “Employees shall not engage in conduct on or off-duty, which has a tendency to impair public respect for the employee and, or the Department.”

Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Karen Calarese at kcalarese@whec.com or 585-546-5670

This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. © WHEC-TV, LLC A Hubbard Broadcasting Company