Firefighter Dismissed After a Facebook Post... In South Carolina

[XLFD]

The Supreme Court has determined that the right to free speech does not allow someone to go into a theater and yell "Fire" when none exist.  But does it allow a public official the right to yell "Fire" when a public employee satirizes a situation, or blows the whistle on a problem?  We have our own situation happening in Pentwater, but...

Nearly a year ago, a FF/Paramedic was let go by his employers after he made and posted a video on Facebook that satired a hypothetical interaction between an unamed FF/Paramedic and a hospital's unnamed doctor. 

The links below tell the whole story and contain links that show the video, the FF's letter of termination, and the letter that rejected his appeal.  The first also has several comments from his peers about his firing.  I include the video here also.

http://www.ems1.com/ems-management/articles/765102-SC-firefighter-p...

http://www.live5news.com/Global/story.asp?S=12047151

 

[AQUAMAN]

Another knee-jerk reaction imho. By powers with huge Egos. He certainly could have warranted a temporary suspension or reprimand, but not firing. Sad, and not so uncommon as we are seeing even around our territory.

[Edie Lindsey]

That video is fun-ny!  And totally harmless.  Nobody is implicated.

This guy had to give up his right to free expression, as did Bear Millard, Deb Millard was fired for giving candy to children, and XLFD was disciplined for disputing a traffic ticket that occured at a stop sign that was illegally placed for years and a hazard to the whole community.  

There will be no one left to put out the fires if we keep throwing good men and women out of our Fire Departments due to bad administrative practices. 

[XLFD]

I can respect the fact that most Fire Chiefs expect discipline and professionalism on the job.  But when you pry into the employees computer postings done on their own time, or threaten to discipline them for requesting a hearing for a civil infraction that wasn't, you are trampling on the rights we all should have.

Throwing candy, now that one's a class one felony and should be handled with extreme prejudice.

[Sweater Cows!]

That vid is so general, yet so specific all at once. To us not in the know in that area it is almost pointless. But it must have really hit a nerve with some people about what is going on in that area. Somebody got there widdle feelwins hurt!