Fire Critic An Unadulterated View of the Fire Service
Guys, Guys, Guys…Have we not learned ANYTHING in the past couple of years? What you say on Facebook DOES NOT stay on Facebook! What you say in your social media networks can and will be seen by others. Social media is such a powerful tool and must be used correctly.
Every time I turn around, another firefighter or group of firefighters is learning their lesson about social media.
However, Facebook isn’t the problem…the problem is with the firefighters.
Kevin Kennedy will participate in anger managment and diversity training as well as suspension without pay after anti-gay facebook comments. Photo from Tennessean.com
Take for instance, the latest “prank” in Macon-Bibb, Georgia. The problem was only made worse by posting it on youtube. The actual root of the problem is that firefighters thought this type of “prank” was ok. It was not.
In the case this post is about, a Nashville Fire Department paramedic, Kevin Kennedy, thought the following was acceptable:
The department was notified on Aug. 3 that Kennedy stated on his Facebook page and on a Nashville Fire Department Emergency Medical Services page that two EMS workers were “queers” and that they should “crawl back into the closet,” said Deputy Chief Kim Lawson, spokeswoman for the department. From the Tennessean.com read more
Making the comment was not acceptable. Posting it on Facebook for everyone to see was also not acceptable. Has this guy lost his marbles? Not only did he put it on his profile page, but he followed up with it on a Facebook page for the Nashville Fire Department Emergency Medical Services…
Quit giving the brave men and women who make up the Fire Service a bad name.
Kennedy has been suspended without pay and will have to attend an anger management program and diversity training.
Kennedy is a 20 year veteran of the department and has the option to appeal his discipline.
